A single chat may not be enough when a task needs external material or real actions. Start by defining a fixed sequence, then decide whether retrieval or tools are necessary. An autonomous agent is not a prerequisite.
Retrieval: find material before generating
Retrieval-augmented generation, or RAG, finds relevant material and provides it to a model for an answer. It does not permanently teach the model the entire collection. Retrieved material can still be irrelevant, outdated, or incomplete.
Tools need clear boundaries
Tools can search, calculate, or call business interfaces. Define their inputs, outputs, and allowed actions. Begin with read-only operations; keep explicit checks for writing, sending, and deleting.
Workflows and agents
A fixed workflow follows predefined steps. An agent lets the model choose some next actions and tool calls. That flexibility calls for clear stopping conditions, logs, and permission boundaries. Terminology can vary between products.
Build a first workflow
Sketch four steps: read notes, extract key points, review them yourself, and write a summary. No external integration is required. Define what each step receives, produces, and does if it fails.