09 · Agents, Tools & MCP · Topic 04

What is Planning in an AI Agent?

Planning is the process of deciding what steps or actions an agent should take to complete a goal.

What is it?

Planning helps an agent break a goal into actions or decide what to do next.

Not every agent uses a large explicit plan. Some agents decide one step at a time, using the current state and new observations to choose their next action.

Think of it like...

Think of it like planning a trip.

Goal: get to the airport.

Possible steps: check route · call taxi · leave home · confirm terminal

If traffic or the terminal changes, the plan can be updated.

How it works

1 · GoalUnderstand the objectiveIdentify what the agent needs to complete.

2 · Current stateCheck what is knownReview available information, tools, and constraints.

3 · Next stepChoose an action or planSelect a useful action, or outline several actions.

4 · ActTake the actionUse an approved tool or produce the next result.

5 · Observe and reviseContinue or change courseUse the result to continue, revise the plan, or stop.

Real-world examples

Everyday example · Travel assistant

Goal: get to the airport on time.

System: checks the route, traffic, and terminal details.

Output: a sequence of actions that can change when conditions change.

AI product example · Research agent

Goal: compare several products.

System: plans searches, gathers evidence, and revises queries when information is missing.

Output: a sourced comparison or a request for human input.

What it is NOT

Planning ≠ Reasoning

Planning: decides actions or their order.

Reasoning: works through information to reach a conclusion.

Planning ≠ Agent Loop

Planning: is one part of deciding what to do.

Agent loop: repeatedly connects decisions, actions, observations, and stopping.

Planning ≠ Fixed Workflow

Planning: can adapt to the current state and results.

Fixed workflow: follows a predefined sequence.

Remember this

Planning helps an agent decide which actions can move it toward a goal.

Video

not available yet

A planning explainer video will be added here when a real video file is available.