Agents existed long before AI
What the word “agent” leaves unspecified
What I find interesting is how AI is changing what people associate with the word “agent.” It feels autonomous and new/shiny. Something that can think through a problem, make decisions, and do things on your behalf.
But keep in mind, we’ve been using that word for a long time.
Start with cooking. There are thickening agents, binding agents, and leavening agents. Cornstarch thickens a sauce. Eggs can hold ingredients together. Yeast helps dough rise.
But the cornstarch doesn’t look at your sauce and decide it’s too thin. The cook decides what the sauce needs, how much to add, and when to stop. The ingredient produces an effect without choosing the outcome.
Now think about real estate. Agents have been around since at least 1805. You tell someone what kind of home you want, what you can afford, and what you’re willing to compromise on. They search, recommend options, arrange viewings, and help negotiate.
Here, the agent does exercise judgment. You don’t have to spell out every step because part of what you’re paying for is their ability to figure those steps out.
Still, asking someone to help you find a house doesn’t mean they can buy whichever one they like with your money. They have room to act, within limits you’ve agreed to.
That’s where the comparison with AI gets interesting.
Imagine asking an AI system to plan a trip. Finding flights is one responsibility. Choosing between them is another. Booking a nonrefundable ticket with your credit card is another entirely.
You might trust it to compare options while still wanting to approve the purchase. It could be capable of completing the booking without having your permission to do so. Calling it an “agent” doesn’t tell you where those boundaries are.
Of course, cornstarch, real estate agents, and software aren’t the same thing. Sharing a word doesn’t make the technology any less new. But these familiar examples show how much the word leaves unspecified.
What can it decide? What is it allowed to do? When does it need to ask you?
I think those questions tell us much more than the label does. Especially in 2026, when hearing “agent” can make us assume both capability and autonomy before we’ve seen either.
And from thickening sauces to selling houses, our grandparents have been working with “agents” longer than any of us.