Types of AI Agents

Understanding the different categories of AI agents

Different agents for different tasks. Let’s explore the types you can build with PraisonAI.

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1. Simple Agents

React directly to what you ask - no memory, just immediate response.

from praisonaiagents import Agent

# Simple Q&A agent
agent = Agent(instructions="Answer questions directly and concisely")
agent.start("What is the capital of France?")

Best For

Quick answers, simple tasks, FAQ bots

Example

Thermostat: cold → turn on heat

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2. Goal-Based Agents

Work toward specific objectives, planning steps to achieve them.

from praisonaiagents import Agent

# Goal-oriented research agent
agent = Agent(
    instructions="Research and summarize topics thoroughly",
    planning=True  # Enable planning for complex goals
)
agent.start("Research the benefits of solar energy")

Best For

Research, analysis, multi-step tasks

Example

Chess AI: plans moves to win

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3. Learning Agents

Improve over time by remembering past interactions.

from praisonaiagents import Agent

# Agent with memory that learns preferences
agent = Agent(
    instructions="Remember user preferences and improve responses",
    memory=True  # Enable memory
)
agent.start("I prefer short, bullet-point answers")

Best For

Personal assistants, recommendations

Example

Netflix: learns what you like

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4. Tool-Using Agents

Extend capabilities with external tools.

from praisonaiagents import Agent

def search_web(query: str) -> str:
    """Search the web for information"""
    return f"Results for: {query}"

# Agent with tools
agent = Agent(
    instructions="Search and analyze information",
    tools=[search_web]
)
agent.start("Find the latest news about AI")

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5. Multi-Agent Teams

Multiple agents working together on complex tasks.

from praisonaiagents import Agent, AgentTeam

researcher = Agent(instructions="Research topics thoroughly")
writer = Agent(instructions="Write clear summaries")

team = AgentTeam(agents=[researcher, writer])
team.start()

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Which Type Should You Use?

Need	Agent Type	PraisonAI Feature
Quick answers	Simple	Default agent
Complex tasks	Goal-Based	planning=True
Personalization	Learning	memory=True
External data	Tool-Using	tools=[...]
Big projects	Multi-Agent	AgentTeam([...])

Start simple! You can always add features like memory, tools, and planning later.

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Next: Agent Architecture

Learn how agents are structured internally.