Agentic AI Explained: What It Is & What It Could Be

AI agents are automated software systems that take actions in the world. These actions can be physical, like robotic manipulation, or digital, such as booking a flight. A report found 35 percent of surveyed businesses have already deployed AI agents. Another 44 percent plan to implement them soon. Generative AI, like ChatGPT, creates stories or images. Agentic AI, however, focuses on performing tasks for people. Most agents today are digital, often helping users interact with applications or websites. Think of customer service agents for product complaints. Many companies use similar core AI models, like Claude, and add specific tools or "wrappers" for different applications. These tools might include a calculator for math problems or access to financial data. A big challenge in developing agentic AI is the lack of training data. For example, teaching an AI to book a flight requires it to learn by trial and error, as detailed instructions are scarce. The most promising application so far is coding agents, which evolved from generative AI trained on code. This technology could change how businesses operate and how we interact with digital services.