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agent washing
also agent-washing
Definition of agent washing
-
: the practice of marketing or relabeling a chatbot, assistant, scripted workflow, or conventional automation as an AI agent even though it has little of the autonomy, planning, adaptation, or independent tool use implied by the label
- The buyer asked the vendor to demonstrate autonomous replanning rather than accept an agent-washing claim in the sales deck.
- Adding a chat interface to a fixed approval workflow does not by itself turn the product into an AI agent.
Two meanings, one word
In everyday English
Washing can mean presenting something in a misleadingly favorable way by hiding what it really is.
In AI
The practice of marketing or relabeling a chatbot, assistant, scripted workflow, or conventional automation as an AI agent even though it has little of the autonomy…
Origin & history
Agent washing emerged during the rapid commercialization of agentic AI in 2025. Gartner used the phrase in warnings that vendors were rebranding AI assistants, robotic process automation, and chatbots without substantial agentic capabilities; the term was subsequently adopted in technology reporting and enterprise procurement guidance.
Test yourself
Which of these is the meaning of agent washing?
Cite this entry
"Agent washing." AI Dictionary, Dadgogo, https://dadgogo.com/dictionary/agent-washing/. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.