Everything You Need to Know About AI Agents and Agentic AI
By Zack Huhn, Enterprise Technology Association
The era of AI agents, or what many now call agentic AI, is here. These systems are reshaping how businesses, governments, and individuals interact with technology. But with the hype comes confusion. Let’s break it down: what are AI agents, what makes AI agentic, and why does it matter for business and technology leaders?
What Are AI Agents?
At their core, AI agents are systems that act autonomously to achieve goals. Unlike traditional software, AI agents don’t just follow static instructions,they perceive, reason, plan, and act in dynamic environments.
A simple example? Think of a chatbot that not only answers questions but books appointments, sends follow-up emails, and adapts its tone based on user sentiment. But AI agents go far beyond that. They can:
Execute complex, multi-step tasks with minimal human input.
Make decisions in real time, often coordinating with other systems.
Continuously learn and improve from new data and outcomes.
What Is Agentic AI?
Agentic AI refers to AI systems that demonstrate high levels of initiative, autonomy, and adaptability. They’re not just tools, they’re partners in completing work. This includes:
Goal-oriented planning: Breaking down high-level goals into actionable steps.
Multi-agent collaboration: Working with other AI agents or humans to accomplish tasks.
Environment awareness: Reacting to changing data, rules, or user inputs on the fly.
Agentic AI systems often operate within defined boundaries (aka “guardrails”) but are designed to solve problems creatively within those limits.
Why Is Agentic AI Important?
Agentic AI is powering the next wave of enterprise automation, personal productivity, and smart systems. For business and technology leaders, here’s what you need to know:
Efficiency gains: AI agents can handle repetitive or complex tasks faster and with fewer errors. Think procurement bots, AI-enabled cybersecurity defenses, and autonomous customer service systems.
Scalability: Agentic AI can help organizations scale operations without linearly scaling headcount.
Competitive advantage: Early adopters of agentic AI are already seeing value in smarter decision-making, faster time to market, and enhanced customer experiences.
What Are Today’s Use Cases?
Leading businesses and governments are already putting agentic AI to work:
AI procurement agents that research, compare, and select vendors.
Cybersecurity agents that detect, respond to, and mitigate threats autonomously.
AI-powered DevOps assistants that deploy, monitor, and patch systems.
Sales and marketing agents that personalize outreach at scale.
Smart city agents managing energy, traffic, and public safety systems.
What to Watch: The Challenges
Of course, agentic AI brings its own set of risks and questions:
Governance and accountability: How do we ensure AI agents act ethically and transparently?
Security: Autonomous agents add new attack surfaces that must be protected.
Alignment: Keeping agentic AI aligned with human goals, especially as complexity increases, is critical.
How to Prepare
Start with clear goals: Don’t adopt AI agents just because it’s trendy. Define the problems you want to solve.
Establish governance frameworks: Ensure responsible AI use through policies, audits, and human oversight.
Focus on interoperability: Choose agentic AI solutions that can integrate with your existing tech stack.
Invest in skills: Equip your teams to collaborate effectively with AI agents—through training, upskilling, and experimentation.
Final Thoughts
AI agents and agentic AI are not the future, they are the present. The real opportunity is for business technology leaders to harness this power responsibly and strategically. At ETA, we’re committed to helping our members and partners navigate this exciting new frontier.
Join us at AI Week or explore our Enterprise Technology Advisors network to learn more about leveraging agentic AI in your organization.
