Definition
What this term means
An autonomous AI system that can plan, execute multi-step tasks, make decisions, and take actions on behalf of a user, such as researching products, comparing options, booking services, or making purchases. Unlike simple chatbots, AI agents can browse the web, use tools, and complete complex workflows with minimal human intervention.
Why it matters
The business impact
AI agents represent the next evolution of AI-driven commerce. As agents increasingly handle product research, vendor selection, and purchasing decisions, they become a critical audience for brand visibility. An AI agent tasked with 'find the best project management tool for a remote team' will evaluate and recommend brands based on the signals it finds, and your brand needs to be optimised for that evaluation.
Used in context
How you might use this term
“An enterprise software company noticed AI agents were being used by procurement teams to shortlist vendors. By structuring their product pages with clear feature comparisons, pricing transparency, and schema markup, they ensured their brand consistently appeared in agent-generated shortlists.”