If you’ve been hearing a lot about “AI agents” lately and wondering how they’re different from just plain “AI,” you’re not alone. It can be a little confusing but understanding the difference can help you make smarter decisions about how to use AI in your business.
Let’s break it down.
What is AI?
AI (Artificial Intelligence) is a broad term that refers to machines or software that can perform tasks that usually require human intelligence like recognizing patterns, answering questions, summarizing documents, or making predictions.
Think of AI as a powerful assistant that works on demand. You ask it something, and it responds.
Examples you may already use:
ChatGPT helping you write an email.
Grammarly suggesting better wording.
Google predicting your search.
These tools are reactive—you prompt, they respond.
What is an AI Agent?
An AI agent is like giving your AI assistant a to-do list and a brain. It doesn’t just respond to a single prompt it can plan, decide what to do next, take actions, and even loop back if something doesn’t work the first time.
It’s like the difference between:
AI: “Summarize this report.”
AI Agent: “Summarize all new reports in this folder every Friday and email them to the team.”
AI agents are goal-driven and proactive.
They:
Break down tasks.
Access different tools or data.
Work autonomously in the background.
Can handle multi-step workflows.
Why should business leaders care?
Because this shift is powerful. While standard AI helps you do one thing faster, AI agents can help you automate whole processes.
Simplified examples:
AI Agent Tools Making This Possible
You don’t need to be a developer to use these. Tools like:
ChatGPT Operator https://openai.com/index/introducing-operator/ + Custom GPTs (like we talked about last week https://kendratech.substack.com/p/top-gpts-for-businesses)
Zapier AI Agents https://zapier.com/agents
Microsoft Copilot AI Agent https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/introducing-copilot-agents-943e563d-602d-40fa-bdd1-dbc83f582466
Agent.ai A whole network of AI Agents you can choose from https://agent.ai/
For my visual learners here is a super simple example of an AI Agent in action:
2025 AI Adventures
New events are added weekly. Since our community spans over 31 states, we’re making it easier than ever for you to join the conversation from anywhere. These new virtual sessions are designed to be interactive and packed with real-world insights you can apply immediately.
March
NEW March 21 Introduction to AI from 9-12 EST in partnership with Max Technical Training. This is a virtual live class led by Kendra Ramirez. This class is eligible for Tech Cred which is reimbursed by the State of Ohio. https://maxtrain.com/artificial-intelligence/general-artificial-intelligence-and-business-applications/introduction-to-ai/
NEW March 25 Newport Business Council 11:15-1 pm EST at the Hofbrauhaus https://business.nkychamber.com/events/Details/newport-business-council-the-pillars-of-ai-1267652?sourceTypeId=Hub
April
April 1 CincyAI 3-5 EST at UC Digital Futures building. Free event. These do sell out every month. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cincyai-for-humans-tickets-1234866953299?aff=oddtdtcreator
NEW April 9 AI in Action: Transforming the Workplace for Growth and Innovation 10-12 EST Hosted by Ellequate https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ai-in-action-transforming-the-workplace-for-growth-and-innovation-tickets-1242305532289?aff=oddtdtcreator
April 16 11:30-12:30 EST. AI Simplified for Business Success webinar for the SOCA community and all businesses. All are welcome. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ai-simplified-for-business-success-tickets-1248471454729
April 17 9-12 EST. AI for Enterprise- AI leaders from TQL, 84.51 and TCS. You won’t want to miss them. The event is being held at the TQL Stadium. https://portal.cincinnatichamber.com/s/community-event?id=a1mJx000005IAfZIAW
NEW April 18 9-12 EST. Introduction to AI in partnership with Max Technical Training. This is a virtual live class led by Kendra Ramirez. This class is eligible for Tech Cred which is reimbursed by the State of Ohio. https://maxtrain.com/artificial-intelligence/general-artificial-intelligence-and-business-applications/introduction-to-ai/
May
May 8 SMPS hosting a 2-hour workshop, dive into the world of AI-driven sales and marketing strategies with hands-on experience tailored to real-world scenarios. 2:30-4:30 at Bricker Graydon. https://greatercincinnatismps.org/meetinginfo.php?id=372&ts=1741785372
May 16 Power to Pursue 9-5 pm at Music Hall Every woman deserves to be seen, heard, and loved. That is the foundational belief of the Power to Pursue Summit, an annual event where women gather to eliminate barriers and embrace the power of their authentic selves. I am leading a session at 9:50-10:45 on Empowering Women with AI, and with 8 other AI Coaches to assist all the women with some AI practice. https://www.cincinnatiarts.org/events/detail/power-to-pursue-25
I love answering your AI questions. Feel free to message me.
Where AI and inspiration collide!
Kendra Ramirez
KendraRamirez.com
We provide AI Speaking and Training, AI Readiness Assessments, AI Strategy, AI roadmap and implementation, and AI Coaching for small to mid-size businesses and nonprofits.
**For those new to my work, I have been in tech my whole career. Over 15 years of running my digital agency (website, social media, and lead generation) and 7 years of helping businesses navigate AI. Over the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of leading over 100 training and speaking sessions, empowering businesses to embrace the transformative potential of AI. My passion lies in simplifying complex technologies to help organizations grow, innovate, and thrive in an ever-changing landscape.
I am so excited that you are on this journey with me! Thank you! 🤗
I have been writing weekly about AI here for over two years. You can search all of my enewsletters here if you are looking to brush up on a certain topic. kendratech.substack.com