Don't let hype about AI agents get ahead of reality

Let's start with the term "agent" itself. Right now, it's being slapped on everything from simple scripts to sophisticated AI workflows. There's no shared definition, which leaves plenty of room for companies to market basic automation as something much more advanced. That kind of "agentwashing" doesn't just confuse customers; it invites disappointment. We don't necessarily need a rigid standard, but we do need clearer expectations about what these systems are supposed to do, how autonomously they operate, and how reliably they perform. And reliability is the next big challenge.