Answers
What is an AI agent?
In short
An AI agent is software that uses an LLM to choose between tools and take actions in the world — reading data, calling APIs, drafting communications — within defined guardrails and (usually) with human approval.
Short answer
An AI agent is software that uses an LLM to choose between tools and take actions in the world — reading data, calling APIs, drafting communications — within defined guardrails and (usually) with human approval.
What this actually means in practice
The difference between a chatbot and an agent is action. Production agents need: clear tool definitions, eval coverage, escalation paths, audit trails and a kill switch.
The most common pitfall
Agents with no eval, no guardrails and no human handoff.
What to do next
Define the smallest end-to-end agent you can ship with eval and guardrails in week one.
Frequently asked questions
Does Forth Systems help with this?
Yes — Forth Systems works with banks, payment institutions, insurers and infrastructure operators on exactly this kind of work. Engagements start with a fixed-scope assessment so you see the shape before committing.
How experienced is the team?
Engagements are staffed by named, UK-based senior engineers — not a rotating offshore pool. References from the second line of comparable clients are available on request.
Where are you based?
Edinburgh-based, delivering UK-wide with onsite presence in London and across Scotland as required.
How fast can we start?
Most engagements start within 2-4 weeks of a signed SoW, faster where an existing supplier framework is in place.