What vendors mean by "agent"

Agent, copilot, and bot often name the same shelf of products. Two questions show whether you still direct each turn.

ChatGPT Custom GPTs, Claude Projects, Gemini Gems, and Microsoft 365 Copilot agents are usually custom assistants, even when the product page says agent.

Do you direct each turn?

You are usually looking at an assistant or a chatbot. You start the work and own the result.

Does it choose its own next steps?

You are in agent territory. It keeps acting toward a goal, with less steering from you.

1. Custom AI assistant

   A saved setup with instructions and optional knowledge. You start each use. Many products labeled agent are this.

2. AI agent

   It picks the next step and can keep acting across tools until the task is done.

3. Agentic AI

   Several agents hand work to each other toward one outcome.

When a demo says agent, ask whether a person still starts each interaction. If yes, you are usually looking at a custom assistant.