Should SMBs start with AI Chatbot or AI Agent?

Most teams should start with AI Chatbot for FAQ and lead capture, then evolve to AI Agent for deeper automation workflows.

Does AI Assistant replace a chatbot?

Not fully. AI Assistant typically complements chatbot flows with internal task support and data-driven recommendations.

Use this comparison to choose the right AI approach based on business goals and operational complexity.

Criteria	AI Agent	AI Chatbot	AI Assistant
Primary goal	End-to-end automation and decisioning	Conversation replies via scripts/knowledge	Task assistance for teams and customers
Autonomy level	High	Medium	Medium to high
Best-fit use case	Complex multi-step workflows	FAQ, pre-sales, basic support	Operational copilot for staff