We Need to Stop Calling RAG Systems 'Agents'

The text discusses the fundamental differences between Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems and true agents, emphasizing that while RAG systems are essentially enhanced search engines with natural language interfaces, true agents possess the capability to perform actions autonomously. It highlights that RAG systems are limited to providing information and require significant architectural changes to evolve into agents, which can execute tasks such as scheduling meetings or filing reports. The transformation from RAG to agents involves complex requirements such as tool calling infrastructure, state management, and sophisticated error handling, distinguishing them through their ability to manage workflows and take actionable steps based on context. The text argues against conflating the two and stresses the need for proper engineering to create agents that not only assist users but also execute tasks on their behalf, ultimately expanding the possibilities and usefulness of AI systems.