AI agents
Are workflows and agents the same thing?
A workflow is a track laid down in advance; an agent lays its own track as it goes. Most production systems are workflows, and that is usually the right call.
It is worth separating two words that get used loosely. Anthropic distinguishes workflows, where models and tools are wired together along predefined code paths, from agents, where the model dynamically directs its own process and decides how to use its tools.[1] A workflow is a track laid down in advance. An agent lays its own track as it goes.
Most production systems are workflows, and that is usually the right call. Anthropic’s own advice is to reach for the simplest thing that works and only add agent-style autonomy when the task genuinely needs it.[1] You can read more on the workflows page.
References
- Building Effective Agents — Anthropic