Agentic AI
Agentic AI is the broad term for AI systems that act autonomously, plan and make decisions in complex multi-step environments.
Agentic AI differs from passive AI (reactive chatbots) via three properties: autonomy (decides own steps), tool use (calls external systems), and goal-directedness (works toward an explicitly given outcome). Often requires multi-step planning, memory between sessions, and error-correction loops. Promises huge productivity gains but needs careful governance.
Example
An agentic research system is instructed: 'write a 10-page report on fintech trends 2026 including data from Search Console and LinkedIn'. The system plans, pulls data, synthesises, writes, self-reviews — without intermediate human input.
Frequently asked questions
Is every AI 'agentic' these days?
No. ChatGPT without tools is purely reactive. Claude Code, Manus and custom AI agents are agentic. The word gets used loosely as marketing.
Related terms
Further reading
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