The Seven Kinds of AI Agents

Recently much has been talked about AI Agents (Artificial Intelligence Agents). It seems agents are the most important theme right now, not only in the AI industry, but for all companies. This probably is because of the expanded scope agents can reach in projects inside corporations, while single agents can handle specific tasks, the real power comes when specialized agents collaborate to solve complex problems. Some call Agent Transformation, Agent Adoption or the “Agentification” of the Economy, but besides the name, AI Agents became part of the day-to-day operations for any company. 

Andrew Ng, the outspoken AI brain behind many new entrepreneurs, startups and new business models, was talking about agents for a while, and, as always in the AI field, his predictions came true [1]. Today we live in the AI Agent Era. Recently, The Information published a good piece about the subject [2], which sparked some discussion [3] [4]. 

Simply put, an AI agent is an intelligent software system designed to autonomously perform multi-step tasks and pursue specific goals without constant human intervention. Unlike basic chatbots, these agents possess advanced reasoning, planning, and memory capabilities, allowing them to learn, adapt, and make decisions independently. The web is now bustling with mainly seven distinct kinds of AI agents, each serving a unique purpose and offering unprecedented opportunities for innovation.

In short, the seven types of AI agents are:

1. Business-task agents
2. Conversational agents
3. Research agents
4. Analytics agents
5. Developer agents
6. Domain-specific agents
7. Browser-using agents

Now, let's delve into these seven transformative categories of AI agents, understanding how they're reshaping operations across various sectors. 

1.       Business-task agents 

Business-task agents operate across various enterprise software platforms to handle administrative and operational workflows. By automating tasks such as invoice processing, document classification, scheduling, and data entry, these agents drastically reduce manual overhead. 

Examples: UiPath, Microsoft Power Automate, Zapier integrated with AI. 

Use cases: Invoice processing, data entry, internal scheduling. 

These agents free up employee time and ensure greater accuracy and consistency across routine but essential tasks, making them an indispensable component of enterprise automation. 

2.       Conversational agents

Conversational agents are AI-driven chatbots that engage users through natural dialogue. Far beyond basic FAQ bots, they can resolve complex customer service inquiries or assist employees with IT and HR-related issues by navigating systems and providing real-time solutions. 

Examples: Google Dialogflow, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Amazon Lex, Salesforce Agentforce, ServiceNow Now Assist. 

Use cases: Customer support, IT service tickets, HR inquiries. 

They offer round-the-clock support, improving both the customer and employee experience while reducing the burden on human support teams. 

3.       Research agents

These agents are specialized in retrieving, analyzing, and synthesizing information from authoritative sources. Whether parsing academic literature, web content, or technical documentation, research agents can generate citations, verify facts, and even answer highly technical questions. 

Examples: OpenAI Deep Research, Perplexity Pro, Scite Assistant, Elicit, AlphaSense. 

Use cases: Research compilation, citation generation, technical inquiry resolution. 

Ideal for industries that demand high accuracy—like academia, legal, or scientific fields—research agents serve as tireless knowledge workers. 

4.       Analytics agents 

Analytics agents are designed to interpret structured data, generating charts, dashboards, and reports with actionable insights. These agents empower business users to explore data without deep technical knowledge, democratizing access to analytics across organizations. 

Examples: Power BI Copilot, Tellius, ThoughtSpot, Glean. 

Use cases: Business intelligence, performance monitoring, trend analysis. 

By turning data into decisions, these agents help organizations stay agile and informed in an increasingly data-driven landscape. 

5.       Developer agents

Built for software engineering tasks, developer agents go beyond code suggestions to complete coding tasks such as debugging, documentation, and even full-feature implementation. They reduce development time and can often work for extended periods without supervision. 

Examples: GitHub Copilot, Q Developer, Claude Code, Devin (Cognition), Cline. 

Use cases: Code generation, debugging, software documentation. 

These agents are revolutionizing the software development lifecycle, making engineering teams more productive and reducing dependency on large developer teams. 

6.       Domain-specific agents

Tailored for regulated or high-stakes sectors like healthcare, law, or finance, domain-specific agents integrate specialized knowledge to assist professionals with tasks that require expert-level understanding and compliance. 

Examples: Harvey (legal), Hippocratic AI (healthcare), Vic.ai, Rogo, Hebbia (finance). 

Use cases: Contract review, medical triage, compliance analysis. 

These agents are trusted partners in environments where precision and accountability are critical, acting as intelligent assistants to professionals rather than replacements. 

7.       Browser-using agents

These agents simulate human-like web interactions, completing tasks such as filling out forms, ordering products, or publishing content. By navigating the web autonomously, they handle tasks traditionally assigned to human assistants. 

Examples: OpenAI Operator, Google Project Mariner, Anthropic Computer Use. 

Use cases: Online purchasing, form submission, content creation. 

With the ability to operate within existing digital ecosystems, browser-using agents extend automation to a broad array of user interfaces and workflows. 

Visionnaire: pioneering the future with AI 

At Visionnaire, we don't just talk about the future of AI; we build it. Our AI Factory specializes in harnessing the power of these diverse AI agents to propel businesses of any sector and size to unprecedented levels of success. With nearly three decades of experience in software development and a visionary approach to technology, Visionnaire is uniquely positioned to guide your company through the AI revolution. 

We understand that embracing AI means more than just implementing a new tool; it's about integrating intelligence into the very fabric of your operations. Visionnaire offers tailored AI solutions, from custom AI software projects and advanced data analysis with deep learning to natural language processing and expert AI consulting. We leverage the best AI models in the world, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, and more, ensuring that your solutions are not only cutting-edge but also perfectly aligned with your specific business needs. 

Our agile development process, combined with our profound AI expertise, guarantees timely delivery and flexible solutions that adapt to your evolving requirements. Whether you aim to optimize customer experience with conversational interfaces, automate intricate processes, or gain deeper insights from your data, Visionnaire provides the practical, results-driven AI solutions that will give you a decisive competitive edge. 

Don't wait to enter the era of intelligence—Visionnaire helps you get ahead, transforming your challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation. Click here to learn more. 

This classification of AI agents is based on the insightful work of Aaron Holmes for The Information, a leading source for in-depth technology news and analysis. You can read the original article here.