Agents vs. the AI Assistant: when to use which Guide
Chat with the assistant for quick, hands-on work; delegate to an agent when a job should run reliably on its own.
Last updated July 16, 2026
On this page
Praxivara gives you two ways to get work done: chat directly with the AI Assistant, or hand a job to a dedicated AI agent that carries it out on its own. Both are capable, but they shine in different situations. This guide helps you pick the right one.
The short version
Use the AI Assistant for interactive, in-the-moment work — asking questions, drafting something together, or getting a one-off task done while you watch. Use an agent when you want a specific job handled repeatedly or unattended, with its own instructions, knowledge, and tools set up once and reused.
Tip: A good rule of thumb — if you'd naturally say "do this now" while you're looking at the screen, chat with the assistant. If you'd say "handle this for me from now on," build an agent.
When to use the AI Assistant
The assistant is a conversation. You ask, it responds, and you refine together in real time. It's the fastest path when the work is exploratory or you want to stay in the loop for each step.
- Quick questions and research. Look something up, summarize a document, or get a fast answer.
- Drafting and iterating. Write an email, outline a plan, or polish copy where you'll react to each version.
- One-off tasks. A single job you don't expect to repeat, and you're happy to guide as it goes.
- Trying an idea. Explore an approach before deciding whether it's worth turning into a repeatable agent.
Because you're present for every turn, the assistant is ideal when the requirements are still taking shape or when you want to approve each move.
When to delegate to an agent
An agent is a specialist you set up once and reuse. It keeps its own instructions, knowledge, tools, and skills, so it doesn't need to be re-briefed every time. Reach for an agent when the work is well-defined and you'd rather not be hands-on for each run.
- Repeatable jobs. A task you run again and again — the same brand-monitoring sweep, the same weekly report — where consistency matters.
- Unattended work. Something that should run on a schedule or in response to an event, without you starting it each time.
- Specialized expertise. A job that benefits from a proven playbook (a skill) plus your own reference material loaded into its knowledge base.
- Multi-step processes. Work that pulls in several tools or integrations and produces files or deliverables you'll come back to.
An agent remembers who it is and what it has learned, reads your knowledge on every run, and reports back through the channel you choose — so it stays accurate and on-brand without constant supervision.
A quick comparison
| AI Assistant | Agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Interactive, one-off work | Repeatable, defined jobs |
| You are | In the loop for each step | Hands-off after setup |
| Setup | None — just start chatting | Built once, then reused |
| Memory | Focused on the conversation | Keeps persona, memory, and knowledge |
| Runs | When you ask | On demand, on a schedule, or on an event |
How to get started with either
- Start in chat. Open the assistant and describe what you need. For many tasks, this is all you'll ever need.
- Notice repetition. If you find yourself asking for the same kind of work more than once, that's a strong signal to build an agent.
- Create an agent. Go to the Agents area and describe the job in plain English. The AI builder sets up the agent's tools, skills, and knowledge for you as you talk it through.
- Add your specifics. Give the agent the reference material it needs on its Knowledge tab so its output reflects your brand and details.
- Test, then delegate. Run a quick test to confirm it behaves the way you want, then let it work and report back on the channel you prefer.
You don't have to choose just one
Most people use both. The assistant is where you think out loud and get quick things done; agents are where you park the recurring work so it runs reliably in the background. Starting a task in chat and later turning it into an agent is a natural progression — and often the best way to discover exactly what your agent should do.