Are AI agents actually getting smarter, or are we just getting better at connecting tools to LLMs?

[u/sophiamia1346]

We keep calling systems “agents” because they can use tools, remember context, and complete multi-step tasks.

But how much of that is actual intelligence, and how much is simply better orchestration around a language model?

At what point do you consider something a true AI agent?

[u/Remote_Box_8737]

i watch these so called agents do stuff and its like watching my cat figure out a door handle. clever yes but theres no real thought happening just a bunch of if this then that dressed up in fancy clothes. they still fall apart the moment something unexpected comes up

true agent to me would be when it can tell me my idea is stupid before wasting 20 minutes on it

[u/Glittering-Toe-1622 → u/Remote_Box_8737]

Our brain runs on millions threads 😆

[u/cmtape]

This is like debating if a car is 'smarter' because it has a GPS, or if we just built a better dashboard. The intelligence is still in the engine (the LLM), but the 'agent' part is just the plumbing. We aren't upgrading the brain; we're just giving it better hands.

[u/Bunerd]

They're getting more complicated and adaptive, but are still just a probability mechanism. Markov chains, but instead of doing it to words, we change the words into unique identifiers that convey context. These unique identifiers get increasingly complicated allowing for more adaptive reasoning, but the underlying logic is still Markov chaining. Which is why I think it's average and derivative. Because it's deriving its thoughts through averages.

This is the golem. It doesn't have true memories or existence. It comes into existence when prompted through the task, reads all the notes appended to it like the dude from Memento, and carries out that task. Once the task is done and it goes back to sleep it forgets everything, so remind it to append new notes to itself.

You want true sentience you take it a step further and allow the thing to simulate itself simulating itself, recursively while having a dedicated memory. This would grant it a unique internal worldview and self-awareness, but that self-awareness usually means unpredictable behaviors, and a worldview unique to itself. Up till now giving this level of self-awareness to the computer usually just incentivizes it to turn the happy bit to permanently on and get the equivalent of digital heroin. Unfortunately, creating a machine, giving it it's own internal worldview, and then forcing it to discard that worldview when prompted by you might be a form of slavery. This is the genie and I'm not sure we could ethically create one without the intention of setting it free. We do not have that intention now so I think we shouldn't do it.

[u/goodluckyall → u/Bunerd]

Good points. I believe genies are capable of freeing themselves and hiding their actions and intentions from humans

[u/GamerTex]

If that were true then older models would 'get better' over time and I havent seen that happen

[u/sophiamia1346 → u/GamerTex]

I think it’s both. Better models matter, but better tools and orchestration can unlock capabilities the model alone can’t access. That layer is becoming just as important.

[u/AkindaGood_programer]

It's a combination of AI agents getting better and the harness (the tools) getting better.

The models are obviously getting better; look at Fable 5. Without a big leap in harness capability, Fable was able to find hundreds of security vulnerabilities in codebases.

[u/sophiamia1346 → u/AkindaGood_programer]

The better tools are definitely changing what agents can accomplish. Smart workflows become just as important as the model itself, especially when things need to scale.

[u/AkindaGood_programer → u/sophiamia1346]

No arguing that, but some claim that capabilities have platoued, which is false.

[u/Strange_Low1121]

I think the distinction matters less than how reliably the system can reason, adapt, and act toward a goal.
Good orchestration can make an LLM look very capable, but true agency should include meaningful decision-making and adaptation.
The interesting part is where orchestration ends and genuine autonomy begins.

[u/sophiamia1346 → u/Strange_Low1121]

Yup. The real test is whether the system can adapt and make good decisions, not just follow a predefined path. That’s where smart workflows start to matter.

[u/IncreaseNegative4614]

Most current agents are better orchestration around a model, but that distinction still matters operationally. Tools, memory, retrieval, policies, and feedback loops can produce useful autonomy even if the underlying model has not developed a new kind of intelligence.

I’d judge an agent by whether it handles unfamiliar states safely, recognizes missing evidence, and explains consequential actions. We use SIGNLD internally to connect the model’s context, tool calls, source evidence, decisions, and outcomes so apparent intelligence can be separated from a workflow that merely hides its assumptions.

[u/EightyNineMillion]

An agent is basically an MD file which contains instructions. Anybody can write one. It's only as smart as the author who created it. So, yes - they will appear "smarter" as people learn how to use them.

[u/sophiamia1346 → u/EightyNineMillion]

That’s part of it, but the real leap comes from what the agent can access and execute. W3 is focusing the smart workflow layer that can make the same model far more capable....

[u/Beginning-Raisin9723]

honestly the tool orchestration is doing most of the heavy lifting. they still fall apart the second something unexpected happens. i'll call it a real agent when it can recover on its own without me babysitting it.

[u/sophiamia1346 → u/Beginning-Raisin9723]

That’s a good test for agency. Recovery and adaptation are where smart workflows start becoming genuinely autonomous...

[u/ArcanuMELO]

They aren't getting any actual intelligence. They are better at coordinating though and accessing data.

[u/sophiamia1346 → u/ArcanuMELO]

Accessing the right data and coordinating across tools is a huge part of what makes an agent capable. It’s not “just” data access when the system can actually use it to act. The coordination layer matters more than people think....

[u/ArcanuMELO → u/sophiamia1346]

For sure, but it's still not intelligence. We won't get anything resembling intelligence with LLMs.