Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a hot topic for business leaders over the last eighteen months. You’ve likely heard about AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity and wondered how they can impact your business. More recently, you might have come across the term agentic AI and felt a bit confused about what it means and how it differs from the AI you already know. This article breaks down these concepts in a straightforward way, helping you understand how AI—especially agentic AI—can add real value to your business operations.
Understanding the AI Spectrum: From Basic Tools to Fully Integrated Systems
AI tools come in different shapes and sizes, and the key difference lies in their level of autonomy and the complexity of integration required to use them effectively. To make sense of this, let’s explore the spectrum of AI capabilities starting from the most familiar to more advanced systems.
1. Traditional Large Language Models (LLMs)
At the entry-level, you have AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity. These are what most people think of when they imagine AI—they generate text based on the prompts you provide. They’re great for creative brainstorming, drafting ideas, or getting started on writing tasks. However, without customisation, the output tends to be generic and may not truly reflect your unique style or voice.
For example, if you use ChatGPT to write emails or documents without any special instructions, the results will often feel standard and impersonal. This is because these tools predict the most likely text but don’t inherently understand your personal preferences or business context.
2. Agent AI: Your Personalised Digital Assistant
The next step up is what’s called an agent. An agent is essentially an AI you train to behave like you. Imagine having an assistant who knows exactly how you like to write emails, what tone you prefer, and how you structure your communication.
For instance, as a CEO, I prefer short, sharp emails that focus on actions or decisions. With an agent, I can train it to draft emails in my style—starting with “Kia ora” for external communication or skipping formalities for internal messages. This personalised approach means the drafts you get are much closer to your natural way of communicating, saving you time and effort.
Setting up an agent is relatively straightforward and significantly more efficient than using a generic AI chat tool.
3. Multi-Agent Specialist Systems (Agentic AI)
Agentic AI takes things further by connecting multiple agents that can communicate and collaborate to complete complex tasks. This is where the real power of AI begins to shine.
For example, in my consulting work, I have set up a multi-agent system that automates invoicing:
- One agent collects billing data from various sources.
- Another agent summarises that data.
- A third agent uses ChatGPT to transform my rough notes into polished text.
- Finally, an agent drafts invoices in Xero, my accounting software.
All of this happens with just one click, creating draft invoices that I quickly review and send. This integration of agents working together is what defines agentic AI, and it requires more technical know-how but delivers a significant boost in productivity.
4. Fully Integrated AI Systems
At the highest level, there are fully integrated AI systems that combine large data sets, machine learning, and automation to deliver end-to-end solutions. For example, when we founded Cohide—a tech platform for recruitment—we built a system that:
- Ingests CVs and maps roles, skills, and experiences.
- Ranks and matches candidates to jobs based on data.
- Predicts future job preferences for candidates.
- Continuously learns from successes and mistakes to improve accuracy.
These systems require deep technical expertise, significant development resources, and integration efforts but offer high autonomy and transformative value.
Balancing Autonomy, Integration, and Cost
When considering AI for your business, it helps to think about the trade-offs between autonomy, integration complexity, and cost:
- Basic tools like ChatGPT are almost free or low cost but offer limited autonomy and generic outputs.
- Agents require a bit more setup (often a subscription to a pro version) but provide personalised assistance that can save time on routine tasks.
- Agentic AI systems that automate multi-step processes start to cost in the thousands of dollars range and usually need some technical help.
- Fully integrated AI platforms can cost tens of thousands but deliver the highest value through deep automation and machine learning.
It’s important to assess where your business currently stands and what level of investment makes sense for the autonomy and value you want AI to deliver.
Getting Started with Agentic AI in Your Business
If you’re looking to dip your toes into agentic AI, a good place to start is by identifying repetitive, time-consuming tasks that could benefit from automation—like drafting emails or summarising notes. You can build or commission simple agents tailored to your style and workflow without needing a full tech team.
As you grow more comfortable, you can explore multi-agent setups to automate more complex workflows. And if your business requires large-scale automation, consider investing in fully integrated AI systems with the help of developers and data scientists.
Final Thoughts
Agentic AI represents a powerful evolution in how businesses can leverage artificial intelligence—not just as a tool for generating generic content but as a personalised, autonomous assistant that works like you do. While the technology can seem complex, understanding the spectrum from basic AI tools to fully integrated systems helps you make informed decisions on how to adopt AI effectively.
Remember, the key to success with AI is balancing the value it creates against the effort and cost of integration. Start small, build your confidence, and scale up as you see the benefits unfold.
For those interested in exploring AI and productivity further, there are opportunities to join interactive sessions focused on practical AI applications and team productivity, where you can ask questions and learn in real time.
Embrace AI thoughtfully, and it can become a game-changer for your business.
