What is an AI Agent? Autonomous LLM Systems

AI agents are systems that use LLMs to reason about tasks and take actions autonomously. Unlike simple chatbots, agents can use tools, access external systems, and complete multi-step workflows.

Agent Components

LLM: The reasoning engine
Tools: APIs, databases, code execution
Memory: Context and history
Planning: Task decomposition

Agent Safety Risks

Excessive agency—taking unintended actions
Tool misuse—incorrect API calls
Prompt injection through tools
Runaway loops and costs

How do I make agents safe?

Limit permissions, require human approval for sensitive actions, monitor all tool calls, and implement guardrails on outputs.