Should You Build an AI Workflow or an AI Agent First? A Four-Question Test
"Should we build an AI agent?" is one of the most common questions in automation projects right now. For most teams, the better first question is: can we script this process? If yes, a workflow will get you to a reliable result faster. An agent belongs only where the path can't be written down in advance. Workflow vs. agent, plainly AI workflow: you define the path, and AI handles interpretation inside it (reading, classifying, extracting, drafting). AI agent: the model chooses its own next step and which tools to use, looping until it hits a goal or a limit. Factor AI workflow AI agent Who controls the path You, in advance The model, at run time Same input, same result? Largely yes Not guaranteed Cost per run Predictable Variable Debugging Fails at a known step You trace the model's decisions Risk of a wrong action Lower, bounded by the steps Higher, needs guardrails Why cost is where they diverge A workflow with two AI steps make...
