What is Agentive AI, Agentic AI and AI Agents?

Agents

Hey folks, with all these terms flowing around it is sometimes hard to pin down the meaning;

• AI Agents
• Agentic AI
• Agentive AI
• AI Assistant
• CoPilots

The terms attempt to convey the amount of autonomy the software has and the level of problem solving it is permitted to do. However all these terms, in my experience get applied very loosely as people don't really know there are subtle differences between them.

AI Agents
Used in most often in generic ways. It means software system with an AI engine, built to complete specific tasks. It does this by breaking the task down into actionable tasks, monitoring progress, and utilising other AI agents or software APIs as required.
In business, they may be used in workflow automation, where an AI Agent manages simple tasks such as routing emails, categorizing documents, or even monitoring inventory levels and placing reorders. I feel this can often be used in conversation in substitute to all the other definitions below.

Agentic AI
Software system with an AI engine that can act with a degree of autonomy, taking pro-active steps without human input to accomplish a task, based on observed needs or objectives. They operate with a high degree of initiative aiming to pro-actively support the system users.
Examples would be SMS chat bots having autonomous conversations with customers to resolve customer service issues.
Systems that show autonomy, acting pro-actively without needing continuous human input. This AI can initiate actions to fulfill specific goals based on its own "decisions" or internal triggers

Agentive AI
AI systems that play an active role in executing specific actions as directed by a user or system, focusing on task performance rather than initiating actions on its own. For instance, a chatbot acting on user commands is agentive, as it’s performing a function based on explicit prompts.

AI Assistants
These are AI systems that are designed for a human to off load some of the task the human is completing. By handing tasks, or providing extra information, or offering guidance. They sit side by side the human in the task.
Examples are AI Assistants that correct software code, suggesting improvements, in the editor as someone works. Alexa, Siri and Cortana are all other well known examples.
They are very limited in the range of tasks they can do and are reactive rather than proactive. Compared to higher levels of autonomy found in Agentic AI.

CoPilots
Just a marketing spin on AI Assistants.

In essence, agentic AI is autonomous and proactive, while agentive AI is directed and responsive. Agentive tends to be up front with user interface interaction where as Agentic tends to be back office getting the job done in the dark.

This basic overview I hope helped introduce some of the concepts and terminology that you will encounter when getting started with AI. Is is part of a series of posts on AI concepts.