The agents are artificial intelligence programs within the system, the matrix. Agent Smith, the apparent leader of the three agents, has the most character development and interaction with the main characters. Agent Smith is Neo’s opposite in oh so many ways; Agent Smith is pitiless, single-minded, focused on finality, conformity and “inevitability”. Neo, on the other hand, is unpredictable (unlike a computer program), emotional, represents unbounded freewill and power of choice (the option of taking the red pill or blue pill being an example).
Agent Smith is also an anti-humanist, which becomes very obvious within the film, through a speech made to Morpheus and other clues. One clue being Agent Smith constantly calling Neo “Mr. Anderson,” this is a way for Agent Smith to constantly remind Neo that he is only human.
