AI Agent
An AI agent is an AI system that doesn't just respond — it takes action. Unlike a chatbot that only generates text, an agent can use tools: send messages, create contacts, query databases, assign conversations. The difference between talking and doing.
What is an AI agent?
An AI agent is the next step beyond the classic chatbot. A chatbot answers — it produces text. An agent acts — it uses tools, calls APIs, writes to databases, plans multiple steps in sequence, and delivers a result, not just words.
Example: you tell Claude or ChatGPT, "Send Sarah a WhatsApp reminder for tomorrow's appointment." A classic chatbot would reply, "That's a good idea, here's a template …" An AI agent looks up Sarah's contact, checks the appointment, drafts the message, and actually sends it — via your MCP Server or API.
What separates an agent from a chatbot?
| Trait | AI Chatbot | AI Agent |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Compose responses | Execute tasks |
| Tool use | None | Yes — API calls, database access, external services |
| Steps | One step (question → answer) | Multi-step (plan → use tools → verify → deliver) |
| Example | "Here's how WhatsApp Business works" | "Pull the top 50 customers, segment by region, draft a campaign per segment" |
The three components of an AI agent
- Model: The language model itself (Claude, GPT, Gemini, Mistral …) — the "thinking engine."
- Tools: Functions the agent is allowed to call. SendSeven example: "send_message," "list_contacts," "assign_conversation," "query_knowledge_base."
- Context: The user's request plus relevant data (conversation history, contact info, business rules).
How AI agents connect to messaging platforms
Two paths:
- MCP Server (recommended): A standardized protocol that exposes tools to the agent automatically. SendSeven offers an official MCP server at
mcp.sendseven.com/mcpwith the full MCP tool set across 6 channels. One config entry in Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Claude Code is enough. - Direct API access: The agent calls the SendSeven REST API itself, authenticating with an API Key. More control, more work.
Practical use cases
- Service triage: Incoming messages are read by the agent, categorized, assigned to the right person, or answered automatically — including a lookup in the knowledge base.
- Campaign planning: The marketing team asks the agent to build a reactivation campaign. The agent segments the audience, suggests a channel and content, and prepares a draft send.
- Reporting: "How many WhatsApp contacts did we gain last week?" — the agent pulls the data and answers immediately, including a comparison to the previous week.
What AI agents are not
AI agents are not autonomous in the sense of acting without oversight. Best practice is always: narrow tool permissions, confirmation step before irreversible actions, audit log. SendSeven's MCP server uses OAuth 2.0 plus typed tool schemas — the agent can only do what you permit.
Do I need an AI agent as an SMB?
If your team handles many repetitive messaging and CRM tasks — sorting inquiries, maintaining contacts, triggering campaigns — moving from chatbot to agent pays off. The entry barrier is low: SendSeven MCP plus Claude Desktop connect in 5 minutes.