What is Agentic AI and How Does it Work?

What Is Agentic AI, and How Will It Change Work?

There’s a lot of noise around AI right now—but one of the concepts that's starting to get real traction is “agentic AI.” If you haven’t come across that term yet, you're not alone. Until recently, it sat on the fringes of most business conversations. But with some big moves in AI development this past year, agentic systems are suddenly on everyone’s radar—and for good reason.

These aren’t just another round of smart tools. Agentic AI goes far beyond predictive models or chat-based assistants. These are autonomous, goal-oriented systems that can take initiative, make decisions, and coordinate tasks with minimal human direction. That shift—away from tools we use, toward agents that act—changes everything about how we think of work, teams, and even the skills we’ll need going forward.

So, what does that actually mean for the workplace?

Here’s a breakdown of where agentic AI is headed, and how it’s likely to impact how we work.

Most people are used to AI that reacts. You give it a prompt, and it gives you a result. Agentic AI doesn’t wait around for instructions. It operates more like a junior colleague: you give it a goal, and it works out how to achieve it.

Agentic systems combine planning, reasoning, and memory with the ability to take multiple actions across platforms. Some are even designed to learn from outcomes and adapt. Think of them less like a tool, and more like an autonomous project manager or analyst.

The major shift here is agency—hence the name. Agentic AI doesn't just respond. It acts.

How This Will Reshape Jobs:
When AI agents take on multi-step tasks without constant supervision, the way we structure work has to evolve. Here's what’s likely to change:

Task ownership will move:
Routine coordination tasks—like chasing up reports, sending reminders, or compiling research—are exactly the kind of work agentic AI will take off your plate. That frees up people for higher-value thinking, but it also means fewer roles based around task execution.

More emphasis on direction, less on doing:
The value in many jobs will come from setting objectives and reviewing outcomes, not completing each step manually. Roles that once required ten steps may now require two: decide what needs doing, and check what comes back.

A rethink of ‘team’:
As AI agents join the workforce, you may find yourself working with—or managing—non-human team members. That comes with new coordination challenges, from how you assign work to how you track progress.

Greater demand for soft skills:
Ironically, as machines get better at tasks, human skills like creativity, judgment, empathy, and collaboration become more important. These are still tough for machines to replicate, which makes them more valuable in hybrid human-AI teams.

New Skills on the Radar:
Just like the spreadsheet changed accounting or email changed communication, agentic AI is going to reshape which skills matter most.

Expect to see rising demand for:

• Prompt engineering – Knowing how to brief AI agents effectively is a must. The quality of the output depends entirely on the clarity and structure of the input.
• Workflow design – It’s not just about what gets done, but how. Knowing how to structure processes where humans and agents work side-by-side is a real edge.
• AI literacy – Understanding the capabilities and limitations of AI agents will be key, especially for managers. You need to know when to trust an agent and when to step in.
• Change leadership – With so much of work shifting, helping teams adapt is just as important as any technical skill.

It’s about understanding what’s possible, what’s appropriate, and how to work productively in a new kind of workplace.

What To Do Now
If you’re leading a team, running a business, or just trying to stay ahead of where the market’s going, here are some next steps worth considering:

Start small with agentic pilots
Try using autonomous agents on internal projects—research, customer follow-ups, or data collation. Focus on low-risk areas where experimentation won’t disrupt your core operations.

Upskill your team: Bring in workshops that break down AI strategy in a way that’s practical and hands-on. Teams need to learn with the tools, not just about them.

Redesign processes for co-working: Start thinking of AI agents as part of your team. Which tasks can they take over? How will you monitor their output? What does escalation look like if something goes wrong?

Get strategic about AI governance: As agents get more autonomous, ethical use and oversight become even more critical. Establish clear policies on how decisions are made, who’s accountable, and where AI fits into your broader strategy.

We’re entering a phase where AI doesn’t just support your work—it shares it. That’s a big shift. But like most tech shifts, the winners won’t be the ones who resist change. They’ll be the ones who understand it early and start planning accordingly.

Agentic AI isn’t science fiction. It’s already here—and it’s changing the shape of modern work.

The smart move? Get ahead of it now.

If you're building an AI strategy, this is the moment to go deeper. Whether through a full AI Strategy Blueprint or a workshop tailored to your business, the time to learn is before the curve catches up.