What is an AiI agent? Do we Care?

I was reading an online article about how the term “software engineer” was going away and that job was being taken by Claude AI. I started thinking about the term “AI agent“ I’ve been seeing in my reading and research. So I decided to ask CHATGPT about it. What I found out is below.:

What Is an AI Agent? (And Why It Matters for Online Entrepreneurs)

AI is everywhere right now.

We’re using it to write blog posts, generate images, brainstorm ideas, and even build websites. But lately, you may be hearing a new term floating around:

AI agent.

So what exactly is that — and why should we, as online entrepreneurs and bloggers, care?

Let’s break it down in simple terms

What Is an AI Agent?

An AI agent is an artificial intelligence system that can:

• Perceive information
• Make decisions
• Take action
• Work toward a goal

In short:

A chatbot answers questions.

An AI agent does things.

That’s the key difference.

The Simple Explanation

Think of it this way.

If you ask a regular AI tool

“Write me a blog post about herbal tea.”

It writes the post.

If you ask an AI agent:

“Create a full blog package about herbal tea.”

It might:

• Write the article
• Create a header image
• Generate a Pinterest pin
• Write a meta description
• Suggest affiliate products
• Format a file name properly
• Schedule it for posting

That’s the leap from assistant to agent.

The 4 Core Parts of an AI Agent

Most AI agents include four main components:

1️⃣ Input

They receive data, instructions, files, or questions.

2️⃣ Memory

They remember preferences, patterns, and previous actions.

3️⃣ Reasoning

They decide what steps are needed to reach a goal.

4️⃣ Action

They perform tasks — writing, uploading, analyzing, publishing, optimizing.

This is what makes them powerful for online business.

Types of AI Agents

Not all agents are fully autonomous. There are levels.

🔹 Reactive Agents

• Respond only to what’s happening right now.
• No memory.
• Example: Basic chatbots.

🔹 Goal-Based Agents

• Given a target and work toward it.
• Example: “Increase my email subscribers by 50 this month.”

🔹 Learning Agents

• Improve performance over time based on results.
• Example: AI that adjusts ad copy based on conversion data.

🔹 Autonomous Agents

• Operate with minimal supervision.
• Can plan, execute, adjust, and optimize.

We are still early in this space — but it’s moving fast.

Why This Matters for Wealthy Affiliate Members

As bloggers and affiliate marketers, we juggle a lot:

• Writing content
• Creating images
• SEO research
• Pinterest pins
• Email sequences
• Tracking conversions
• Updating old posts

Imagine having an AI system that could:

• Generate a full blog bundle (post + images + pin)
• Apply a consistent file naming system
• Suggest affiliate links
• Create social captions
• Track performance
• Recommend updates based on traffic data

That’s where AI agents are heading.

AI Assistant vs AI Agent

Here’s a quick comparison:

AI Assistant

• Answers questions
• Waits for instructions
• Mostly reactive
• Works step-by-step

AI Agent

• Completes multi-step tasks
• Works toward goals
• Uses memory
• Can act independently

We’re moving from “tool” to “digital worker.”

Are We Using AI Agents Yet?

Most of what we’re using today inside blogging platforms (including AI writing tools) are assistants — not fully autonomous agents.

But we’re very close to hybrid systems.

Soon, it won’t just be:

“Write me a blog post.”

It will be:

“Build and publish a traffic-generating asset.”

And the system will handle 80% of the workflow.

The Big Opportunity

For online entrepreneurs, this means:

• More efficiency
• Faster content production
• Scalable systems
• Automation of repetitive backend tasks

But it also means something important:

The people who understand AI early will use it strategically — not lazily.

AI agents won’t replace creativity, strategy, or authenticity.

They will amplify it.

Final Thoughts

AI agents are the next evolution beyond chatbots.

They’re not just about conversation.

They’re about execution.

As Wealthy Affiliate members, we’re already building online businesses. Understanding how AI agents work — and how they can support our workflow — gives us a serious edge.

The question isn’t whether AI agents are coming.

It’s how we’ll choose to use them.

-shirley