Topics / agent autonomy

Attributed viewpoint

Tool choice distinguishes agents from fixed workflows

Grootendorst distinguishes agents from fixed pipelines by their ability to decide autonomously when and why to use specific tools—rather than following a rigid, predetermined sequence.

Behind the viewpoint

Translations are for reading; original excerpts remain the evidence.

An Agent Is Just an LLM in a For-Loop

Original excerpt

Fair enough. The key distinction is whether the system makes its own decisions about when and why to use a tool, versus being put in a pipeline where you explicitly say “always do steps one, two, and three.” An agent might decide to do steps 3, 3, 1, 2, 1, 3 — deciding on its own when and where to use specific tools. I think that’s maybe the best distinction between what is and isn’t an agent.
Context

Maarten Grootendorst: