Agentic AI: Definition and Examples

Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence systems capable of acting autonomously, making decisions, planning actions, and executing complex tasks without constant human intervention.

Full definition

Agentic AI represents a major evolution in the field of artificial intelligence. Unlike classic models that simply respond to a single query, an AI agent can break down a complex goal into sub-tasks, execute them sequentially or in parallel, and adjust its strategy based on the results obtained at each step.

Concretely, an agentic AI system possesses several key capabilities: planning (developing an action plan to achieve a goal), tool use (browsing the web, executing code, querying APIs), memory (retaining context between steps), and autonomous decision-making (choosing the best next action without asking for confirmation each time).

This approach contrasts with the simple "chat" paradigm where the user must manually guide each step. With agentic AI, the user formulates a high-level goal — for example "analyze this dataset and produce a report with recommendations" — and the agent orchestrates all necessary steps itself: loading data, cleaning it, analyzing it, generating visualizations, and writing the report.

The most well-known agentic frameworks include Anthropic's Claude Agent SDK, AutoGPT, CrewAI, LangGraph, and Microsoft AutoGen. Agentic AI is considered one of the most promising development areas in generative AI, with applications ranging from automated software development to scientific research and business workflow automation.

Etymology

The term "agentic" comes from "agent" (from Latin "agens", one who acts), combined with the suffix "-ic" to form an adjective meaning "having the capacity to act". In psychology, the concept of "agency" refers to an individual's ability to act autonomously. Applied to AI, "agentic" conveys this same idea of autonomy of action and independent decision-making.

Concrete examples

Autonomous software development

Implement a complete REST API to manage users: create data models, routes, unit tests, and fix errors until all tests pass.

In-depth research and analysis

Research the top 5 competitors of our product, analyze their strengths and weaknesses, and produce a comparative report with strategic recommendations.

Business workflow automation

Each morning, check new orders in our CRM, identify those requiring follow-up, draft personalized follow-up emails, and schedule their sending.

Practical usage

In prompt engineering, leveraging agentic AI involves formulating high-level goals rather than step-by-step instructions. Give the agent a clear goal, the necessary tools, and success criteria, then let it determine the best approach. Remember to define guardrails (maximum number of iterations, permitted scope of action) to maintain control while benefiting from the agent's autonomy.

Related concepts

Agent IATool UseChain of ThoughtFunction Calling

FAQ

What is the difference between a classic chatbot and an agentic AI?

A classic chatbot responds to a single query and waits for the user's next instruction. An agentic AI can break down a complex goal into multiple steps, use external tools (web search, code execution, API calls), and chain actions autonomously until the desired result is achieved.

Is agentic AI reliable for critical tasks?

Reliability depends on the framework used and the safeguards in place. Best practices include human validation for irreversible actions (human-in-the-loop), limiting the agent's scope of action, and implementing rollback mechanisms. Agentic AI is becoming increasingly reliable but still requires supervision for high-stakes tasks.

How to start using agentic AI in my projects?

The simplest way is to use a tool like Claude Code (Anthropic) or Cursor that natively integrates agentic capabilities. For more customized use cases, you can explore frameworks like Claude Agent SDK, LangGraph, or CrewAI that allow you to build custom agents with tools and workflows tailored to your needs.

How to use this prompt

Copy the prompt with the button above.
Paste it into ChatGPT, Claude or your favorite AI assistant.
Replace the bracketed variables with your details, then refine the result.

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