What is an agent and which one are you using in Claude

When you talk to Claude, it can work in two different ways. Knowing which one you are using helps you set the right task and get better results.

Why this matters

A chatbot replies and waits for your next message. An agent is given a goal and decides for itself which steps and tools to use to get there. If you ask an agent to do something, you can walk away. If you ask a chatbot, you need to stay and guide it through each step.

Understanding the difference means you know what to expect and how much to explain.

How it works

Anthropic's engineering guide Building effective agents describes an agent as a system where the AI model directs its own process and its use of tools. The model stays in control of how it gets the task done. This contrasts with a workflow, where the AI and the tools follow steps that were laid out in advance in code.

In most Claude conversations, you are using a chatbot. You ask a question, Claude replies, then it waits. You type the next instruction and Claude answers again. You are in charge of what happens next.

Anthropic describes Claude Code as an agentic coding environment. Unlike a chatbot that answers and waits, it can read your files, run commands, make changes and work through problems while you watch, redirect or step away. You set the goal and Claude decides how to reach it.

In Claude Code, Claude can hand side tasks to subagents. The Claude Code documentation describes subagents as specialised AI assistants that handle specific types of tasks. Each one works in its own context window (its own separate working memory) and returns only a summary to your main conversation.

Claude Code includes built-in subagents that Claude uses automatically when appropriate. These include Explore, Plan and General-purpose. Explore is a fast, read-only agent for searching and analysing a codebase. Plan is a research agent used in plan mode to gather context before presenting a plan. General-purpose is a capable agent for complex, multi-step tasks that need both exploration and action.

How to tell which one you are working with

In the Claude apps, the model selector sits next to the send button. It shows the selected model and effort level. Click the model name to choose a different Claude model. The option "More models" shows further options.

The model shown in the selector is the one that will answer your next message. You can change the model, effort level or thinking setting at any point in a conversation. The change applies from Claude's next response.

In Claude Code, the assistant you are talking to is the model named in the selector next to the send button. Any helper agents are started by Claude itself.

When a session is running as a named agent, its name appears as @name in the startup header so you can confirm it is active. You can start a session as a particular agent with the --agent option. Typing @ lets you pick a subagent from a list, in the same way you @-mention a file.

Once you have chosen a subagent by typing @ and selecting from the list, that subagent becomes named and you can select it again later by typing @ and choosing the same name.

The /tasks command shows the subagents that are running and, in recent versions, which model each one is using.

Common mistakes

People assume that because they used a certain model earlier in the conversation, Claude is still using it now. Always check the selector before you send your next message.

Another mistake is expecting a chatbot to finish a long task without further input. If you are working in a regular Claude conversation, break the task into steps and confirm each one.

One thing to try this week

Next time you open Claude, look at the model selector next to the send button. Note which model is shown. Then try this:

> Check which model you are using and tell me what it is good at.

Claude will tell you which model answered and what tasks suit it. If you want to try a different model, click the selector and choose one. Send another message and see how the answer changes.

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