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Call it a hype but you can't wish away Agentic AI
Call it a hype but you can't wish away Agentic AI

April 7, 2025

AI

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Imagine a world where your digital assistant doesn't just answer questions but anticipates your needs, makes decisions on your behalf, and adapts to changing circumstances without explicit instructions. Picture an AI that notices you are running low on groceries, compares prices across stores, places an order, and even adjusts delivery time based on your calendar - all without a single prompt from you. This isn't science fiction, it's Agentic AI in action, the latest evolution that's causing both excitement and eye-rolling across the tech landscape.

For years, generative AI has dominated headlines with its ability to create text, images, and code. But Agentic AI represents something fundamentally different. Unlike its predecessors that simply respond to prompts, agentic systems autonomously perceive their environment, make decisions, and take actions to achieve specific goals. They are not just smart assistants waiting for commands; they are proactive partners that get things done.

What makes AI truly "agentic" is the powerful combination of large language model flexibility with traditional programming precision. Think of it as marrying the creative, adaptable brain of an artist with the methodical, reliable hands of a surgeon. This hybrid approach enables AI to handle tasks requiring both intuitive understanding and exact execution - like a skilled diplomat who knows both when to improvise and when to follow protocol to the letter.

The real-world applications are already emerging from the theoretical fog. Customer support agents resolve tickets without human intervention. Code assistants decompose complex programming tasks and generate solutions. Data analysis tools transform natural language questions into precise database queries. These aren't just incremental improvements, they represent a fundamental shift in how we interact with technology, similar to how smartphones revolutionized our relationship with computing.

Yet skepticism abounds, and not without reason. As one expert bluntly puts it, "If I see one more video talking about how AI agents are the 'new thing in AI,' I am going to explode." The concept of AI agents has existed since the 1950s, making the current excitement seem like old wine in new bottles. Stuart Russell and Peter Norvig's seminal 1995 textbook defined AI itself as "the study of autonomous and intelligent agents," making the term "Agentic AI" somewhat redundant.

The limitations are also substantial. These systems struggle with real-world grounding, often hallucinating steps or misunderstanding tool behaviors. Their long-term memory remains weak, and their action reliability is questionable. Even simple sequences like "book a flight, reserve a hotel, summarize options" can fail unpredictably. Without tight constraints, agents may loop endlessly or pursue dead-end plans - like a new employee with enthusiasm but no judgment or experience to guide their decisions.

The dream of fully autonomous general agents capable of planning arbitrary goals, using unfamiliar tools, and navigating unstructured environments without supervision—remains largely science fiction. It's like expecting a toddler who has just learned to walk to compete in a marathon. The foundation is there, but the capability gap is enormous.

The most realistic approach combines Co-Pilot + Agent + Human collaboration. Co-pilots help users complete tasks faster, agents handle multi-step processes in constrained workflows, and humans supervise, review, and intervene when necessary. This triad - augmented intelligence rather than artificial independence - is where the immediate value lies.

Despite these limitations, dismissing Agentic AI as mere hype would be shortsighted. Major tech companies from NVIDIA to Google consider it a top trend for 2025. Jensen Huang, NVIDIA's CEO, calls it "a multi-trillion-dollar opportunity" that will fundamentally transform workflows. Early adopters are already gaining competitive advantages in fields ranging from marketing to healthcare.

The evolution is happening whether we acknowledge it or not. Just as smartphones transformed from curiosities to necessities, Agentic AI is gradually weaving itself into the fabric of our digital lives. The systems that seem limited today will become increasingly capable tomorrow, following the relentless pattern of technological advancement.

As we navigate this transition, the question isn't whether Agentic AI will reshape our relationship with technology, it's how we will shape that relationship to benefit humanity. The hype may fluctuate, but the underlying shift towards more autonomous, capable AI systems cannot be wished away. The future belongs not to those who deny this reality, but to those who prepare for a world where AI becomes less of a tool and more of a proactive partner in solving our most complex challenges.


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Jayajit Dash
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications

Contrarian, communicator, story-teller, blogger,

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