Agents & Agentic AI
Tool use
A model's ability to call external functions, software, or services to complete a task.
Example
A travel assistant calls a flight-search service instead of guessing current prices.
Why it matters
It lets an assistant perform practical work and consult current information instead of relying only on learned text.
You'll hear it
“Use the calculator for that figure rather than estimating it.”
Can you control it?
Sometimes
Sometimes. Some products or workflows let you influence tool use, while others keep it fixed or manage it automatically. Check the settings and documentation for the tool you are using.
Common questions
- Does access to a tool mean it was actually used?
- No. The system may answer without calling it unless its behavior requires otherwise.
- Can a tool return incorrect information?
- Yes. Tools can fail, use outdated records or return results that need interpretation.
- Can one task need several tools?
- Yes. An assistant may need different services for finding information, calculating and recording the result.