If you’ve been hanging out in the online business space lately, you’ve probably heard people tossing around the term AI Agents like it’s the hottest thing since sliced bread.

And if you’re like me, your first thought might have been… Wait, what in the world is an AI Agent? And is this just another name for those Custom GPTs everyone’s building?

A lot of people are pretending they know what it means, when in reality, most are just as confused as you and me AND/OR they’re just using a buzz word (AI Agents) to sell you some stuff…

So let’s clear this up once and for all, in plain English!

What An AI Agent Actually Is

Think of an AI Agent as an AI “worker” that can DO actions for you, not just chat with you and give you content or answers.

Instead of just answering a question like ChatGPT normally does, an AI Agent can be set up with:

A goal: “Book me the cheapest flight to Mexico.”

Tools or integrations: Like email, calendars, or external apps.

Autonomy: It doesn’t just stop at giving you ideas. It can do the thing (send emails, run scripts, move data, update spreadsheets, etc.).

So in practice, an AI Agent is like hiring a digital assistant that doesn’t just tell you what to do, but actually goes and does it.

Full disclosure: I’m still not using AI Agents yet and while I understand them I’m NOT using them right now. It’s coming though… 😉

Are They The Same As Custom GPTs?

Not exactly but they overlap…

Here’s the breakdown:

Custom GPTs (like the ones you can find in the GPT Store) are basically personalized versions of ChatGPT. You give them instructions, extra knowledge, or a specific personality, and they respond within that scope.

AI Agents take things a step further by giving them the ability to act in the real world. They can use tools, APIs, or plugins to actually execute tasks.

The easiest way to think of it…

A Custom GPT is like a super-smart consultant you’ve trained to talk to you in a certain way.

An AI Agent is that same consultant with a laptop, credit card, and your passwords all ready to actually go make things happen.

Example time… 🎉

5 Examples How Online Marketers Are Using AI Agents And Custom GPTs

This is where it gets fun! I don’t want you just knowing the difference. I want you to see how marketers are already putting AI Agents and Custom GPTs to work in their businesses!

The next 6 months we’re going to see some cool stuff doing things for us in our business…

1. Email Marketing

Custom GPT: Writing email sequences in your brand voice or turning PLR into polished, unique emails.

AI Agent: All the above AND connecting to your email platform, loading the emails, segmenting your list, and scheduling campaigns automatically.

2. Content Creation

Custom GPT: Generating blog post outlines, rewriting PLR, or giving you catchy social captions.

AI Agent: All the above AND taking those posts, formatting them in WordPress, adding SEO tags, scheduling them, and even creating matching graphics in Canva.

3. Social Media Management

Custom GPT: Giving you a list of trending hooks or writing captions that sound like you.

AI Agent: All the above AND logging into your scheduler (Buffer, Hootsuite, etc.), creating the posts, attaching graphics, and scheduling them for the week.

4. Market Research

Custom GPT: Summarizing trends in your niche or helping brainstorm angles for new products.

AI Agent: All the above AND monitoring competitor sites, pulling in fresh data, tracking mentions of keywords, and dropping daily reports into your inbox.

5. Sales Funnels

Custom GPT: Writing copy for your opt-in page, thank-you page, or sales page.

AI Agent: All the above AND building the funnel inside your page builder, integrating the email automation, testing links, and making sure everything works before launch.

Are you starting to think what I’m thinking?

AI Agents will be replacing Custom GPTs… 🤔 Maybe 🤷🏼‍♀️

Let’s drive this home with a full on example…

The Real World Example

Let’s say you’re running a taco blog (because, you know, tacos are life).

Custom GPT: You build one that helps you brainstorm new post ideas, rewrite PLR into fresh taco content, or give you sassy taco-themed captions.

AI Agent: You build one that not only brainstorms content and all the things, but also logs into Canva, creates the graphics, uploads them to Pinterest, and schedules posts automatically without you lifting a finger.

That’s the difference!

The Big Takeaway Here?

AI Agents aren’t just another buzzword. They’re a shift from “AI that talks” to “AI that acts.” Custom GPTs are still powerful and useful, but when you hear someone talking about AI Agents, just know they’re referring to the next level AI that actually does the work for you.

So the next time you hear someone name-dropping “AI Agents” like they’re in on some big secret or they’re trying to sell you something that IS NOT an AI Agent… you’ll be educated enough to know the difference.

Now I’m off to find out how to build an AI Agent to bring me REAL authentic tacos! 🌮😂 Wait… I’m in Mexico! I’ll just walk to the corner and get some. No AI agent needed! 😍