Tool use is an AI model's ability to invoke external functions, search engines, databases, code execution, APIs, to accomplish tasks beyond text generation. The
An AI model's ability to invoke external functions, search engines, databases, code execution, APIs, to accomplish tasks beyond text generation. The model decides when a tool is needed, emits a structured call, and incorporates the result into its reasoning.
It turns language models from advisors into operators, which is the defining capability of the agent era. It is also the central security surface: every tool an agent can call is something an attacker can try to make it call, so least-privilege tool design is essential.