Tool Use

Tool use is the broader concept that encompasses function calling and any mechanism by which an AI agent interacts with external systems. While function calling is one implementation, tool use includes MCP (Model Context Protocol) connections, code execution environments, browser automation, file system access, and more.

The evolution from chatbot to agent is fundamentally about tool use. A chatbot generates text. An agent with tools can write and execute code, browse the web, manage files, call APIs, interact with databases, and control other software. Each tool extends what the agent can do, and the agent decides when and how to use each tool based on the task.

At Agentik {OS}, tool use is what makes our agents production-grade. Our development agents do not just suggest code — they write it to files, run the tests, read the errors, and fix the issues. Our marketing agents do not just write copy — they publish it, track analytics, and optimize based on performance data. The tools are what turn AI intelligence into business results.