Agent vs Workflow
A workflow executes a predefined path. An agent directs its own process, in a loop, on feedback from the environment.
L1 · SEE IT
Workflow means nothing different in the AI context than it did before: code paths utilize LLMs and tools to execute a specific sequence of events in a deterministic and predictable way. An agent has the freedom to direct its own process and tool usage. It can assess what just happened and decide what to do next. It operates independently in a loop while analyzing feedback from the environment.
L5 · RESEARCH
The receipts · claims checked at the source
| Claim | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Workflows execute LLMs and tools through predefined code paths; agents direct their own process and tool usage, operating in a loop on feedback from the environment. | Building Effective AI Agents | verified 2026-07-02 |
The reading room · relevant work in this territory
Anthropic, 2025
MIT Technology Review (2026), 2026