1. AI Tool
Definition:
An AI Tool is a software or application that uses AI to help you do a specific task.
Examples:
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Grammarly: Uses AI to correct grammar.
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Canva Magic Write: Uses AI to generate text inside a design app.
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ChatGPT app: An AI tool powered by an AI model.
Key Point:
You interact with AI via the tool. The tool may look simple on the outside, but inside it uses powerful AI models to give results.
2. AI Model
Definition:
An AI Model is the brain that does the thinking.
It’s a trained algorithm that can understand, predict, generate, or classify data.
Examples:
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GPT-4: A language model that powers ChatGPT.
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DALL·E: A model that generates images from text.
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BERT (by Google): Helps understand search queries.
Key Point:
AI Models are the underlying technology behind tools. Tools are just the interface, models are the intelligence.
3. AI Agent
Definition:
An AI Agent is an autonomous system that can perceive its environment, make decisions, and take actions to achieve goals — sometimes with little or no human input.
Examples:
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A chatbot that books your flight automatically.
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AutoGPT / AgentGPT: These can plan tasks, search online, and complete multi-step goals.
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Self-driving car AI — it senses the road, makes decisions, and drives.
Key Point:
AI Agents use AI Models to act like smart assistants. They can perform tasks on your behalf with some level of independence.
Summary
Term | What It Is | Role/Function | Example |
---|---|---|---|
AI Tool | App or software using AI | User interface for doing AI tasks | Grammarly, Notion AI, Canva Magic Write |
AI Model | Trained algorithm (the “brain”) | Understands, predicts, or generates data | GPT-4, DALL·E, BERT |
AI Agent | Autonomous system using models & tools | Acts and decides towards a goal (multi-step) | AutoGPT, Self-driving AI, Jarvis-like bots |