What is an EA?
An EA is a program designed for MetaTrader. It can follow fixed rules, indicators, statistical logic or more complex models and can automate entries, exits and position management.
What makes a bot “AI”?
The label can refer to machine learning, adaptive models or other data-driven techniques, but it is also used loosely in marketing. The label itself does not establish that a system learns, adapts or performs better than a rule-based EA.
Execution can be similar
Both approaches can ultimately send orders to a broker account. That means spreads, slippage, leverage and broker conditions remain relevant regardless of how the trade signal was generated.
Which gives more control?
A self-hosted EA often gives the user direct control over broker, VPS and settings. A managed AI service may be easier to use but can expose less of its internal logic.
How should you compare them?
Ignore the label first. Compare live track record, drawdown, trade count, position sizing, fees, custody and the ability to stop or withdraw. Evidence matters more than whether the software is called AI or an EA.