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Understanding agentic AI

AI agent vs chatbot: what is the difference for the enterprise?

A chatbot answers, an AI agent acts. Here is how to tell a conversational assistant, an autonomous AI agent and a multi-agent system apart, and how to deploy them in the enterprise.

Definitions

A chatbot (or conversational agent) answers a question within a conversation. It does not carry a task through to the end by itself.

An autonomous AI agent chains several steps to reach a goal: it plans, uses tools (code repository, tests, tickets, databases) and produces a deliverable. Agentic AI refers to this ability to act, under human control.

A multi-agent system brings together several specialised agents that cooperate. In HALO, five agents (PO, Architect, UI/UX, TechLead/Dev, QA) produce, and Brain, at the centre, listens to every exchange.

CriterionChatbotAutonomous AI agentMulti-agent system (HALO)
RoleAnswerPerform a taskDeliver a project end to end
ToolsNone or fewRepository, tests, APIsOne specialised agent per role
Human decisionAt every messageAt the endAt every gate, by an identified human
MemoryConversationTaskRules captured by Brain, versioned

How do you deploy AI agents in an enterprise?

  1. Pick a real, bounded change, described on one page.
  2. Install the platform inside your perimeter (on-premises or private cloud).
  3. Connect your repository and models, with limited rights.
  4. Let your teams judge the result on real code, then extend.

That is the principle of HALO's 48-hour proof. For the security side, see

sovereign and on-premises AI

Frequently asked questions

Does an AI agent replace teams?

No. In HALO the agents produce, but three human roles (PO, Team Lead, tester) decide at every gate, and responsibility for going to production stays named.

The proof on your code, in 48 hours.

No three-month pilot: a real change, delivered in your repository, judged by your team.

Request the 48-hour proof