How It Works

Call tools

Everyday shorthand for an AI model using function calling — reaching out to a search engine, calculator, code runner or other app to get something done. Also called 'tool use' or 'tool calling'. A model that can call tools is the basic ingredient of an AI agent.

Origin · no single documented coiner

Developer slang that grew out of 'function calling' and 'tool use' in 2023–2024; no single coiner.

No single primary source link for this term.