Artificial Intelligence

How Modern AI Agents Access and Use External Data in 2026?

How AI agents access data in the digital era

Written By : Poulami Saha
Reviewed By : Radhika Rajeev

All data people consume is now digitalised. A digital footprint can be found in professional and personal life. The shift from traditional chatbot services to smart AI assistance has driven this change. Modern AI agents are capable of extracting every detail of life. It can also store data for later use. The question of whether this is safe is a matter of debate. Here is a detailed perspective on the topic.

Understanding AI Agents

AI agents can be broadly defined as autonomous software systems that use artificial intelligence to perceive their environment, make decisions, and take actions to fulfill roles defined by humans. A 2025 PwC survey finds that nearly 80% of companies have adopted AI agents. 

Also read: How AI Is Redefining Regulatory Compliance for Financial Institutions

But how do AI agents work? Here is an overview of how this tool works:

  • An AI agent gathers information from its environment.

  • Core models, such as large language models (LLMs), analyse information. The information is then broken down to achieve the desired result and translated into decisions.

  • Agents then execute the plan by calling on an API, updating a database, and sending an email.

  • Agents also monitor the results of its action and update their strategy if needed. This makes them a self-improving module.

AI Agents extracting data: A boon or bane

Initially, AI agents like Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude were partly trained on publicly available web content. With time, they now retrieve web information at run time using retrieval or browsing tools. The entire cycle of feeding on data, using it, and extracting more data to complete the existing data has both pros and cons. 

  • With AI agents, workers can shift from doing tasks manually to using AI, boosting productivity

  • AI agents run smarter and faster 

  • AI agents are more efficient as they coordinate with multi-agent systems. This can be seen in large companies that focus on technology and data handling.

  • AI structures are costly and businesses need huge capital investments, impacting ROI.

  • Increasing AI dependency can lead to a breach of privacy 

To be or not to be: Future of AI agents

Several reports suggest that AI agents can contribute in organizing new and innovative workflows. Agents consume data using programmatic access through natural language queries. These queries are then translated to SQL or API calls with no graphical interfaces. This automates workflows and delivers innovative results quickly. AI agents enable bypassing human intervention and human-centric applications by interacting directly with data products..

The highlights of modern AI agents’ future include:

  • Services are becoming personalized, proactive, and concierge. This is one step ahead of basic chatbots.

  • 25% of planned AI spend is being pushed into 2027 due to pending clearance on ROI.

  • Security is being upgraded to create alerts and take action. AI agents can detect, assess, and respond to threats in real time.

  • The rise of enterprising AI agents is laying the foundation for new safety policies worldwide.

The shift from human-first agents to AI-first agents is expected to take place in the near future. Businesses primarily used user interfaces to access data. These included dashboards, reports, and software applications. However, each of these interfaces handled the complexity of data platforms separately. Modern AI agents bring them all together on a single platform, creating a new standard for businesses.

Also read: How Companies Can Avoid the Biggest AI Pitfalls in Workplaces

FAQs

1. What are AI agents?

Ans: AI agents can be defined as autonomous software systems. They use AI to identify surroundings, make decisions, and take actions. The aim is to achieve roles specified by humans. 

2. Which AI agent is best for business? 

Ans: The best AI agent for business depends on the specific use case. Top options include  Moveworks for enterprise workflow automation, CrewAI for multi-agent collaboration, and Lindy for customised tasks.

3. Which is better: ChatGPT or Gemini?

Ans: Gemini is better for huge data analysis and  real-time research while ChatGPT is better for, coding, creative writing, and logical reasoning

4. Has ChatGPT , Gemini, and Claude improved? 

Ans: Google Gemini, Anthropic's Claude, and OpenAI's ChatGPT are rapidly improving. Now they are specialized and multi-modal assistants

5. What is the future of AI agents?

Ans: The future of AI agents could cover personalisation, increased autonomy, and integration. 

Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp

Cardano News Today: ADA Price Tests Key Support After 17% Decline and Weak Recovery Signals

Everything Traders Need To Know Before BlockDAG’s Much Anticipated Feb 11 Token Generation Event

ZKP Crypto Outpaces Hyperliquid & ASTER with Presale Auction Scarcity Driving 6,000x Upside

CZ Pushes Back on Binance FUD as Crypto Selloff Blame Grows: Are the Claims True?

Ozak AI Presale Records a 280% Acceleration in Daily Contributions as Capital Commitments Surge Past Early Benchmarks