AI Copilots vs Agents

The copilot vs agent distinction is the most important framing in current AI product strategy. Copilots augment human work — they suggest, draft, and assist while the human drives. Agents act autonomously — they plan, execute, and deliver results while the human supervises. Most products marketed as 'agents' are actually copilots. The distinction matters because the go-to-market, pricing, trust model, and UX are fundamentally different. Copilots sell to individuals; agents sell to workflows.