What the f**k is : Agentic AI?

Subscribe to Token Effort at www.tokeneffort.io

Every Friday I’ll be dropping an explainer on AI. Anything from concepts to companies to products or news. Today it’s Agentic AI.

Artificial Intelligence, like anything in tech, invents terms, acronyms, slang and jargon to confuse the rest of us. So to keep the bastards honest, I’ll always breakdown the following:

• What is it?

• Why should I care?

• And what does it actually do?

Something else you’ve seen/heard of but don’t know enough about? Let me know as I’m keen to unpack it. 

AGENTIC AI

WHAT IS IT?

Agentic AI is just AI that can figure out how to do something by itself, either on its own or using other tools.

Until recently, AI like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini have only ever done exactly what they’re told. This meant it was great at individual tasks, but for anything with multiple steps or needing initiative, it was rubbish. Here’s a good analogy:

• Standard AI is a rental car. You can jump in and drive it where you need to go, but unless you’re in the driver's seat, you’re not going anywhere.

• Agentic AI is an Uber. Tell them where you want to go and they’ll figure out how to get you there. If you really want you can jump in with directions, but mostly you sit back and enjoy the ride. You can even send one to someone else while you’re not even in the car.

WHY SHOULD I CARE?

For anything web based, Agentic AI will soon be doing whatever YOU are doing now.

Doesn’t matter what industry, if a task is online, straightforward and repeatable, Agentic AI can already do it.  For things that don’t need any human nuance, Agentic AI already does it better, faster, and cheaper.

For some people this is good, and for many people this is bad.

GOOD FOR: Specialist roles, where boring parts will be automated leaving you to do the higher level . (Eg. Tax Accountants can spend less time categorising receipts and more time on tax strategy or client specific advice)

BAD FOR: Any industries/roles where too many of their tasks can be automated (e.g Data Entry, Customer Service Reps, Executive Assistants, Travel Agents) - These are the roles we’re already seeing become redundant, or we’ll see disappear soon.

BUT WHAT DOES IT ACTUALLY DO?

Almost anything.

In less than a year, AI evolved from “Advanced Tool” to something closer to “Basic Employee”. 

Before, AI only did exactly what you instructed. Now it’s proactive, so give it a goal and it can complete the steps to get there on its own. 

Agentic AI can do your job as long as:

• It’s digital or online-based.

• It can access any external systems (Via Web/API/Integration and no repeated manual logins or CAPTCHAs)

• Tasks are standardised, repeatable, and straightforward.

• Doesn’t require complex human judgment or ongoing external approval.

And it’s built using 3 main parts:

1. Generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini act as the “Brains”

2. The “Brains” use automation companies like N8N, Gumloop or Zapier to build workflows on how to complete tasks.

3. And the workflows access “tools” of your trade. These tools are anything from Spreadsheets or Email to specialist software specific to your industry. 

Agentic AI is getting better at using the tools everyday, and the amount of tools it can access is also growing - that’s how it’s doing more and more.

In all, Agentic AI is the biggest opportunity and the biggest threat to most people’s work. Hold onto your hats, ladies and gentlemen. Storm’s coming.

I’ll be doing my best to prepare for that storm, and maybe even point out where the shelter will be. If you’d like to join me you can subscribe to Token Effort at www.tokeneffort.io