A background agent is an AI agent that runs away from the foreground chat or user interface and reports back when work changes state. It is useful for slow jobs, but it needs durable status, cancellation, time limits, and notifications so unattended work does not become invisible work.
OpenAI Agents SDK provides the primary reference used for this definition and its production boundaries.
How does background agent work in production?
A foreground request starts a durable job and returns an identifier. Workers process it asynchronously, while LLM observability exposes progress and agent timeout bounds silence. Background execution must still have visible state.
When does background agent matter?
Use it when a result takes longer than a user should wait, such as compiling a report or checking many records. Add an agent kill switch and a clear completion channel. Running out of sight is not permission to run without limits.
Frequently asked questions
What is background agent used for?
Use it when a result takes longer than a user should wait, such as compiling a report or checking many records. Add an agent kill switch and a clear completion channel.
Is a background agent the same as a long-running agent?
Not always. Background describes where execution happens; long-running describes durability across time and restarts.
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