Can You Define What the Word Agentic Means?

Agentic describes someone or something that is capable of achieving outcomes independently (“functioning like an agent”) or possessing such ability, means, or power (“having agency"). (1)

It has recently become the infamous substitute moniker for the artificial intelligence process. Think about what an "agent" does; for example, actors, writers, and athletes all have agents who represent them to either obtain a book deal or movie role or sports performance.

The person who checks you in to your plane is called an agent, and so is a person who works for the FBI and the CIA. So, when we say that the process that occurs when an individual is using artificial intelligence is agentic --- we mean that there is an understanding that the process is designed to complete complex tasks or "thinking" in an autonomous manner. This process occurs with little or no participation from the individual user who is stating an inquiring "prompt." (OK, but wow!)

Merriam Webster (MW) goes on to say that agentic is more specifically used to describe people's self-assertive behaviors or actions directed towards individual accomplishment, status and independence. (2) (That's a mouthful!)

Recently, the New York Times Sunday Magazine's ongoing feature article On Language had an article devoted completely to the word "Agentic." The author confirmed MW's definition by saying, " . . . recent thinking  in psychology . . . says agency is the ability to act independently, and by doing so, feel control over your own direction --- steering your fate instead of watching helplessly as life happens to you." (3) Hmmm. 

And in essence, that's what I try to explain to friends when I try to get them to explore artificial intelligence apps, and or as Bill Gates recently said, "Get with it or fall behind."(4)

The author of this NYT article, Nitsuh Abebe, further said, "Being a highly agentic individual is going to be so important with the rise of "A.G.I."(*) Or, in the A.I. era --- become an "agentic individual" to thrive iscover how work evolves with A.I. agents. Don't get left behind." (5)

So it seems within a short range of time both Gates and Abebe seem to be saying that if you don't explore all of your AI options, you are soon going to find yourself left behind.

If you have recently used artificial intelligence to your benefit please tell me about it  in the comments section of this blog ---  I am curious to know.

# # # #

------------------------------------------------------------------------

* A.G.I. is, essentially, AI that can think, reason, and adapt to entirely new situations in a human-like manner.

(1) Merriam Webster Dictionary
(2) Ibid.
(3) NewYork Times Sunday Magazine column On Language, Nitsuh Abebe, April 12, 2026, page 8. (4) https://techno-travels.blogspot.com/2026/05/get-with-it-or-fall-behind_0583993304.html                                                                                                                    (5) Abebe, op. cit, page 9.