AI аgents: What they are and how they are changing our lives

AI agents are the next step in the evolution of artificial intelligence, promising to simplify our lives by performing complex tasks—from booking restaurant tables to planning trips and conducting research. Unlike conventional neural networks that solve narrow tasks, AI agents can act autonomously and handle processes comprehensively. Here’s what AI agents are, how they differ from traditional neural networks, and what capabilities are already available.

What is an AI Agent?

Ordinary neural networks, despite the name “artificial intelligence,” are usually limited to specific functions such as text generation, image processing, or translation. They provide results based on a request but cannot perform complex sequences of actions or interact with external systems. For example, a neural network can suggest which TV to buy but won’t take into account the size of your room, product availability in stores, or customer reviews.

AI agents are more advanced systems that:

• Solve complex tasks: For example, they can plan a trip, including choosing a destination, finding tickets, booking hotels, and creating an itinerary.
• Act autonomously: An AI agent can receive permission to act on behalf of the user, such as booking tickets or sending emails.
• Integrate with external resources: They use email, booking websites, or other services to complete tasks.

“AI agents differ in that they are authorized to act on behalf of the owner. For instance, the agent selects the most suitable tickets for a trip and offers the user to buy them. If the user agrees, the agent completes the payment itself,” experts note.

How AI Agents Differ from Neural Networks

The key differences between AI agents and traditional neural networks are:

• Versatility: Neural networks handle one task (such as text generation), while agents perform multi-step processes like planning or analysis.
• Autonomy: Agents can interact with external systems (such as booking a hotel), while neural networks only provide information.
• Context-awareness: Agents consider multiple factors—user preferences, external data, and constraints—when completing tasks.

Examples of AI Agents

Manus
Developed by Chinese startup ManusAI, this simple and intuitive agent is available in three modes: chat, agent, and adaptive. It runs on a credit system: 1000 credits are given at registration, and 300 credits daily (not accumulative). The minimum paid plan ($16 per month) provides 1900 monthly credits plus 300 daily.
One user shared their experience: “We asked it to analyze our website, including the code, compare it with competitors, and provide improvement recommendations. The report was very detailed (7 pages). Its usefulness could be rated 4 out of 5, as it included many general recommendations.” The task consumed about 300 credits.

Deep Research
Built into ChatGPT by OpenAI, but available only in paid plans (starting at €23 per month) with a limit of 10 requests. Deep Research is designed for professional use, such as in-depth data analysis or research. However, like other neural networks, its accuracy is not guaranteed.

Genspark Super Agent
This agent uses multiple neural networks to handle complex tasks, such as booking restaurants or sending email invitations. Access for Russian IP addresses is blocked. The free plan provides 200 credits per day, but this is often insufficient for complex queries. Paid plans start at $19.99 per month.

Alice
Yandex’s Russian neural network, though not a full-fledged AI agent yet, already demonstrates advanced features powered by YandexGPT 5 Pro. In July 2025, Yandex removed the subscription requirement for Alice chats, making them free. Alice can:

• Reason through complex topics.
• Search within documents and images.
• Summarize large texts and generate content.
• Create images in different styles.
• Translate texts and respond in English.

Alice is available via the mobile app, web chat at alice.yandex.ru, and in Yandex Search and Browser apps. While it does not yet perform autonomous actions like foreign agents, its features suggest potential for further development in Russian AI agents.

Limitations and Risks

Despite their impressive capabilities, AI agents are still imperfect:

• Fact-checking: Like neural networks, agents may provide inaccurate information, so results must be verified.
• Accessibility: Many agents, such as Genspark, are unavailable in Russia without VPN.
• Cost: Most advanced features require paid subscriptions, while free limits are often insufficient for complex tasks.

“Always carefully verify the information that any neural network provides,” experts warn.

The Future of AI Agents

AI agents are in the early stages of development but hold enormous potential. In the future, they could:

• Fully automate routine tasks, such as booking, scheduling, or shopping.
• Conduct complex research, replacing the work of analysts.
• Integrate with personal devices and services to create tailored solutions.

Russian solutions like Alice still lag behind in autonomy, but Yandex and other companies are actively developing in this direction. Over time, AI agents may become true digital assistants capable of replacing humans in many daily tasks.

In Brief…

AI agents are a new level of artificial intelligence capable of carrying out complex, multi-step tasks and acting on behalf of users—unlike conventional neural networks with narrow functions. Systems such as Manus, Deep Research, Genspark Super Agent, and Alice already showcase capabilities like trip planning, data analysis, and process automation. However, their results require fact-checking, and access in a number of countries including Russia is limited. In the future, AI agents promise to become universal assistants that make life easier, but for now, users should approach them with caution.