What is an AI agent?
An AI agent is a software program that uses a large language model to understand a goal, decide what to do, and take actions like sending a message, calling an API, or updating a record, often across multiple steps and with limited human input.
The difference between an AI agent and a chatbot is action. A chatbot replies with text; an agent can actually do the work: look up an account, book an appointment, process a change, and write the result back to a business system. It does this by calling "tools" (functions and APIs) the way a person would click through software.
Good agents run with guardrails: a defined scope, safety rules, and human-in-the-loop approval for sensitive actions, so a person can review or step in before anything irreversible happens.
Tether Relay is the platform for AI employees that call, text, and email, use business tools mid-conversation, and update the system of record, all with human-in-the-loop controls.
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Last updated June 2026
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Tether Relay is in private beta with design-partner intake open.