AI Agents – what are they really? This tutorial shows you how not to get duped by companies claiming to have them.
First, you’ll learn what AI agents are using a crisp five-part checklist—autonomous, action-taking, perceptive, adaptive, and proactive—so feature marketing doesn’t fool you. Next, you’ll see how AI agents differ from chatbots through the classic sensors-and-actuators definition plus a plain-language translation you can apply anywhere. Then, you’ll test agent washing claims against real examples, including a fast audit of ChatGPT Deep Research to decide whether it qualifies as an agent. Afterward, you’ll score QuickBooks Online’s Accounting Agent for autonomy, observable actions, perception, adaptation, and proactivity to judge if it truly helps your books.
Then, you’ll evaluate Microsoft Copilot Studio by designing a meeting-prep workflow that reads your calendar and emails you a daily digest automatically. Next, you’ll examine Custom GPTs as task-specific tools and learn what extra work is required for actions, memory, and proactivity. You’ll leave with a one-page scorecard and buyer’s checklist to spot real value, avoid hype, and choose the right solution fast.
Host: David DeWinter
Sponsor: Intuit
Kevin Stratvert 