The tech industry is enamored with AI agents. From sales bots to autonomous systems, companies like Salesforce and HubSpot claim to offer groundbreaking AI agents. Yet, I’ve yet to encounter a truly autonomous, agentic experience built from LLMs. The market is awash with what I call “botshit,” and if the best Salesforce can do is improve slightly over a mediocre chatbot, that’s underwhelming. What Makes a True AI Agent?

But here’s the critical question everyone is missing: even if we could build fully autonomous AI agents, how often would they be the best solution for users?

To explore this, let’s consider travel planning through the lens of agents and assistants. This use case helps clarify what each trait of agentic behavior brings to the table and offers a framework for evaluating AI products beyond the hype. By the end of this piece, you’ll be able to decide whether AI autonomy is a worthwhile investment or a costly distraction.

The Building Blocks of Agentic Behavior

1. Perception

The ability to sense and interpret its environment or relevant data streams.

• Basic: Understands simple text inputs like travel preferences and accesses basic travel databases.
• Advanced: Analyzes multiple data streams, including past travel history, real-time flight data, weather, and even social media trends.

An agent with advanced perception could, for instance, notice your preference for destinations with excellent public transit and factor that into future recommendations.

2. Interactivity

The ability to engage with its environment, users, and external systems.

• Basic: Answers user queries in a Q&A format.
• Advanced: Maintains a dynamic conversation, asks for clarifications, and adjusts its communication style based on user preferences.

LLMs like ChatGPT have set a high bar for interactivity. However, most customer support bots struggle because they need to integrate company-specific data and backend systems, prioritizing accuracy over creativity.

3. Persistence

The ability to store, maintain, and update long-term memories about users and interactions.

• Basic: Saves simple preferences for future use.
• Advanced: Builds a detailed profile of user habits and continually refines its understanding.

True persistence requires systems that not only store data but also evolve with each interaction, much like how a human travel agent remembers your favorite seat on a plane.

4. Reactivity

The ability to respond to changes in its environment in real time.

• Basic: Adjusts estimates based on manual inputs, like new exchange rates.
• Advanced: Monitors multiple data streams and proactively adjusts itineraries based on real-time events.

For example, a reactive system could suggest alternative travel dates if hotel prices surge due to a local event.

5. Proactivity

The ability to anticipate needs and offer relevant suggestions unprompted.

• Basic: Recommends popular tourist attractions.
• Advanced: Flags important issues like an upcoming passport expiration or suggests better travel times based on traffic patterns.

True proactivity requires robust perception, persistence, and reactivity to offer timely, context-aware suggestions.

6. Autonomy

The ability to operate independently and make decisions within defined parameters.

Autonomy varies by the level of resource control, impact scope, and operational boundaries. For example:

• Basic: Limited control over low-value tasks, like managing irrigation systems.
• Advanced: Managing high-value resources, like optimizing a company’s entire AI infrastructure.

The more complex the task and the greater the impact of a mistake, the more safeguards and precision the system needs.

The transportation industry is currently experiencing a rapid evolution, compelling companies to reimagine themselves within their ecosystem and opening up numerous opportunities for growth. Digitalization in Travel and Transportation Industries covers a myriad of tools and technologies. The competitive landscape is in a state of flux, with startups challenging established players and the introduction of innovative products and services in mobility, transportation, and logistics.

Digital transformation in the travel industry involves utilizing technology to modernize and revolutionize the operations and customer interactions of travel businesses.  And Artificial Intelligence is no exception.