All AI is not Created Equal

When most people think of AI, they think of something like ChatGPT – which is genertive AI. But, there is also agentic AI which is the brains behind autonomous vehicles, robotic process automation, or smart assistants that can schedule your meetings and order your groceries. These systems are equipped with sensors, algorithms, and actuators that enable them to perceive their environment, process information, and execute actions.

What sets agentic AI apart is its ability to act with purpose. It’s not just reacting to input but considering objectives and making choices to achieve them. For instance, an autonomous drone delivering packages must navigate obstacles, optimize its route, and adapt to unforeseen circumstances — all without human intervention.

The easiest way to differentiate generative AI from agentic AI is to think of their primary functions. According to Forbes, generative AI is about producing something new, while agentic AI is about achieving something specific. One creates, and the other acts.

But generative AI isn’t perfect. Its outputs are only as good as the data it’s trained on. Feed it biased or incomplete data, and it will reflect those flaws. Moreover, it doesn’t truly “understand” the content it creates. It’s simply predicting what might come next based on patterns it has seen before. Despite this limitation, Forbes reports that generative AI is already revolutionizing industries, from marketing to entertainment.

While generative AI focuses on creating, agentic AI is all about doing. This type of AI is designed to act autonomously to achieve specific goals. Agentic AI systems don’t just generate outputs; they make decisions, take actions, and adapt to changing environments.