What is the difference between an AI agent and a copilot?

A copilot works reactively and at human pace: it waits for input, offers a suggestion, and leaves execution to the user. An AI agent, by contrast, pursues a goal over a longer period, decides on intermediate steps itself, and acts even when nobody asks. The difference lies in initiative, time horizon, and scope of action – not in the underlying model.

Why does this matter?

The terms are often used interchangeably in marketing, yet they create entirely different expectations and control requirements. Introducing an agent requires a mandate, boundaries, and logging; introducing a copilot mainly requires good suggestion quality.

What does this look like in practice?

A copilot suggests a phrasing while you write an email. An agent is given "resolve the open complaint on case 4711", pulls order and delivery data, drafts the reply, obtains approval and sends it — across several steps, without anyone triggering each one.

Not to be confused with

Not a ranking: a copilot is the right choice where a person should keep control step by step. An agent pays off where the same goal is pursued across many similar cases.