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Workflows versus agents: how much autonomy should you actually give an AI system, and how do you decide?

The industry conflates 'agent' with anything that calls an LLM. The useful distinction is how much control you hand to the model, and more autonomy is not better. Here is the spectrum and the decision rule.

Updated Aug 2026 · Grounded in real Applied AI Engineer interview loops and written to a senior-engineer editorial bar.

The industry conflates 'agent' with anything that calls an LLM. The useful distinction is how much control you hand to the model, and more autonomy is not better. Here is the spectrum and the decision rule.

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