Comparison
Chatbot vs AI Agent
Conversational interface vs autonomous executor.
Overview
Both use LLMs, but they solve different problems. A chatbot answers; an agent acts. Mixing them up leads to over-engineered Q&A or under-powered automation.
Differences
| Dimension | Option A | Option B |
|---|---|---|
| Primary mode | Reply to messages | Execute multi-step goals |
| State | Mostly stateless per turn | Maintains plan + memory |
| Tools | Few or none | Many, with planning loop |
| Risk profile | Low (text out) | Higher (real-world actions) |
Use Cases
- →Help center Q&A over docs → Chatbot (RAG)
- →Research, outreach, ops execution → AI Agent
Recommendation
Choose chatbot when the value is in the answer; choose agent when the value is in the action. Never build an agent for a task a chatbot can do.
Related Workflows
Related Tool Stacks
↳ connected nodes
Workflow↳ linked
Build an Internal Knowledge Bot
Ship a Slack bot that answers questions from your company docs.
Workflow↳ linked
Automated Lead Qualification & Outreach
Score every new lead and trigger personalized outreach in minutes.
Tool Stack↳ linked
RAG Starter Stack
Minimum viable stack to ship a production RAG chatbot.
Tool Stack↳ linked
AI SDR & Outbound Sales Stack
Stack that runs lead enrichment, scoring, and personalized outreach end-to-end.