The Minimum Agent Loop You Can Ship (and When to Skip It)

Description and use

<p>Most "agents" in production are a loop: the model picks a step, calls a tool, reads the result, and decides whether to stop. Name that loop and its stop condition before you call the thing an agent.</p> <p>An <a href="https://chainofthought.show/glossary/ai-agent/" rel="noopener noreferrer">AI agent</a> is given a goal and runs until the goal is met or it gives up. A chatbot takes a prompt and returns a response. A bigger model does not turn one into the other. The system around the model does: tools, state, and something that decides "one more step" versus "done." <a href="https://chainoft

Problem

<p>Most "agents" in production are a loop: the model picks a step, calls a tool, reads the result, and decides whether to stop. Name that loop and its stop condition before you call the thing an agent.</p> <p>An <a href="https://chainofthought.show/glossary/ai-agent/" rel="noopener noreferrer">AI agent</a> is given a goal and runs until the goal is met or it gives up. A chatbot takes a prompt and returns a response. A bigger model does not turn one into the other. The system around the model does: tools, state, and something that decides "one more step" versus "done." <a href="https://chainoft

Outcome

<p>Most "agents" in production are a loop: the model picks a step, calls a tool, reads the result, and decides whether to stop. Name that loop and its stop condition before you call the thing an agent.</p> <p>An <a href="https://chainofthought.show/glossary/ai-agent/" rel="noopener noreferrer">AI agent</a> is given a goal and runs until the goal is met or it gives up. A chatbot takes a prompt and returns a response. A bigger model does not turn one into the other. The system around the model does: tools, state, and something that decides "one more step" versus "done." <a href="https://chainoft

Evidence

The Minimum Agent Loop You Can Ship (and When to Skip It)

Source