Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
This article is part of the Spend Smart series. Read more stories
Key Takeaways The efficacy of agentic AI heavily relies on the quality of data it receives, necessitating clean, well-organized data for precise insights, and it still requires human oversight to refine and guide its functionality.
Despite common misconceptions, agentic AI is currently active and influential within organizations, aiding in real-time analysis and decision-making, and is integral for businesses looking to stay competitive.
Agentic AI isn’t smarter AI — it’s an autonomous decision-maker that’s completely transforming how businesses operate and how employees work. Its impact rivals the rise of the internet in the 1990s or the launch of the iPhone in the 2000s. But like every major innovation, especially when it first goes mainstream, there’s a lot of confusion about what agentic AI actually is. Some think it’s an advanced version of ChatGPT, while others assume it’s a type of chatbot.
Misunderstanding around agentic AI is often caused by oversimplified explanations, marketing buzz or a lack of hands-on experience. But it also stems from common perceptions around automation, especially the chatbots that people regularly rely on for things like customer support, order tracking or making appointments. And inside organizations, agentic AI is often confused with internal systems that handle routine tasks, like chatbots designed to respond to IT support requests, track the status of purchase approvals or update employee records. While useful for simple tasks, these chatbots don’t drive outcomes on their own.
Agentic AI acts more like an autonomous digital coworker. It can analyze complex data, interpret trends, surface opportunities and proactively recommend next steps to help teams make smarter decisions. Compared to a traditional AI, which is reactive and responds to instructions, agentic AI acts independently and thinks ahead.
As CEO of Infragistics, I’m constantly speaking with leaders from established enterprises to emerging, high-growth companies about the impact of AI. The misconception that agentic AI is a chatbot can keep companies from realizing its true potential.
Here are four other common myths to watch out for.
Related: Your AI Initiatives Will Fail If You Don’t Address This Crucial Component First
... continue reading