Tool use

What it means

Tools expand what the model can do beyond text generation. In agents workflows, tool use often shapes automation and task completion.

How it works

Agents typically run a loop of planning, tool use, and evaluation. Each step updates state so the system can decide what to do next.

Why it matters

Agents help automate multi-step work by combining reasoning, tools, and memory.

Common use cases

• Automating multi-step tasks that span tools or apps.
• Coordinating search, retrieval, and execution to reach a goal.
• Running background workflows with human-in-the-loop checkpoints.

Example

Calling a web search tool to fetch current information.

Pitfalls and tips

Agents can drift if goals are vague or tool permissions are too broad. Clear success criteria and guardrails keep them reliable.

In BoltAI

In BoltAI, this shows up when you enable tools, agents, or automation features.