As the language around agents proliferates, it’s important to distinguish two related—but very different—concepts:
AI Agents
These are assistive tools that help users complete tasks more efficiently. They are often human-initiated (via prompt or interaction) and typically perform discrete, bounded functions like summarizing, recommending, or auto-filling.
- Example: A contract assistant that extracts key terms from uploaded documents
- Analogy: Like a highly skilled executive assistant—you give the instructions, it executes
Agentic AI
These are autonomous systems designed to pursue goals with minimal human oversight. They can plan, act, adapt, and collaborate across systems. Agentic AI monitors environments, initiates action, and manages workflows end-to-end.
- Example: An agent that monitors supply chain disruptions, replans distribution, and coordinates vendors without human intervention
- Analogy: Like a capable team lead—you give the goal, it figures out how to deliver