Agentic AI is a term gaining traction, but what does it really mean?
Simply put, agentic AI refers to intelligent systems that can act autonomously, making decisions, learning from data, and performing tasks with limited human supervision. While some AI agents work directly with users, such as chatbots or voice assistants, others operate in the background, quietly streamlining processes and delivering results without constant interaction.
At MediaViz, we’ve embraced this “invisible” approach to agentic AI. Our technology works behind the scenes to optimize workflows, personalize recommendations, and deliver smarter outcomes without adding complexity.
In this post, we’ll explore the meaning of agentic AI, its importance, and how it’s shaping the future of technology.
What is Agentic AI?
Agentic AI definition: Agentic AI describes artificial intelligence systems capable of acting autonomously to perform tasks based on user goals, preferences, and context.
Unlike traditional AI tools that rely on constant manual input, agentic AI can independently analyze situations, make decisions, and take action. Ideally, these systems stay aligned with the user’s original intent, whereas traditional AI often requires step-by-step guidance to achieve the desired outcome.
Or at least, that is the promise of any system designed to act as an agent for a given purpose. To better understand what agentic AI is supposed to be — and how we might measure its effectiveness — we can look directly at the definition of “agent” below.
/ˈāj(ə)nt/
a person (now also digital entity) who acts on behalf of another person or group.
AI has come a long way, especially in the past few years. In the past, AI was primarily used to recognize patterns and perform basic tasks — things a toddler could do, like identifying shapes or labeling objects. While impressive, these systems relied heavily on human intervention to guide them.
But the game has changed. Agentic AI goes beyond simple pattern recognition; it’s designed to think, adapt, and act for you, a group, or a business on its own as a representation of you. This shift means AI can now assist with complex processes, like making decisions and completing tasks autonomously, saving time and effort for users. It also means the bars of trust and understanding of intent must be raised to new heights.
Agentic AI Meaning in Practice:
Imagine a system that doesn’t just follow your commands but anticipates your needs. For example:
- A photo curation tool that automatically selects the best images from your collection based on quality and relevance.
- A voice assistant that schedules meetings based on your calendar and habits, with no extra prompts.
- A travel assistant that “waits” in a digital line for you to get show tickets in a distant city.
These AI agents can be visible or invisible, depending on their design. While some directly interact with users, others focus on working behind the scenes, reducing friction and delivering results autonomously.
In the near future, these agents will learn to recognize repetitive work in many workflow-heavy processes; when they discover workflows that can’t be fully automated, they’ll synthesize new automations they can perform themselves to augment human interaction.
Technology agents already do lots of things for us that we don’t realize, and they have for years. Think about it — there’s spacecraft out there exploring the solar system on all of our behalf right now! The key difference with AI agents is their ability to deliver intelligent, task-specific assistance tailored to both the user and the task itself, making this technology accessible and useful for anyone, in any profession, worldwide.
Our Definition? AI Agents Should Reflect You
MediaViz has been developing the technology to power the visual understanding and personalization of AI agent systems for so long that we were one of the first to use the term, “personalized AI.” Can you tell we are passionate about this topic?
As AI agents come into full focus, we think this term can be used to both simply define what agentic AI should be and directly measure it.
Think of a task that you’ve asked a good friend or family member to do for you — for example, pick up dinner, buy you clothing to match another garment, or send you the best photos from a concert. Because you’re not doing the task, you’ll have an opinion on how your friend or family member performed. It’s the same way with your AI agent — when you see the result of your agent’s work on your behalf, you will naturally measure how well they did or how pleased you are by how close to the choice you would have made is to their results.
Because of the nature of AI agents, all these systems should be able to produce results that are equal to what the individual would do in the same situation repetitively. If an AI agent promises to make decisions on your behalf, it’s critical that the providers give you a way to understand all the decisions that were made, give you a way to understand what the alternatives were, and a way for you to give feedback or make configuration changes.
Without this personalized approach, the repetition of tasks is no longer agentic AI — it’s just simply AI.
Why “Invisible” AI Matters
Agentic AI isn’t always invisible. Many AI agents interact directly with users, such as answering questions in a chatbot or guiding someone through a process via a voice assistant. However, there’s a growing trend toward designing agentic AI systems that work quietly in the background — performing tasks autonomously without requiring constant user interaction.
Why is this important?
- Efficiency Without Disruption: Users don’t want to deal with excessive notifications or micromanage AI — they just want results.
- Focus on Outcomes: Background AI allows users to focus on their goals while the system takes care of repetitive or complex tasks, just like the user would.
- Saving Time and Resources: By automating processes seamlessly, invisible AI reduces manual effort and streamlines operations.
- Freeing Mental Energy for Creativity: When multimedia is being created, be it a photo, a video or a graphic image, users of invisible AI can create more and curate less.
MediaViz AI embraces this “invisible” model of agentic AI. Designed as a behind-the-scenes helper, our technology handles complex tasks like media analysis, curation, and personalized recommendations with minimal user interaction. This lets businesses benefit from advanced AI without adding noise to their products or offerings they integrate agentic AI into.
The Future of Agentic AI
The rise of agentic AI reflects a shift toward more human-centric technology — tools that don’t just work for users but work with them. MediaViz is at the forefront of this trend, providing invisible, intelligent solutions that simplify complex processes and drive better results.
What’s next for agentic AI? Here’s what we think:
- Greater adoption of AI agents across industries, from tourism to digital asset management.
- Increasing demand for systems that combine autonomy with personalization.
- The evolution of MediaViz’s technology to support even more industries while remaining invisible and efficient.
As businesses continue to adopt AI solutions, the focus will shift to systems that deliver value effortlessly. MediaViz’s unique approach to invisible, agentic AI positions it as a key player in this exciting future.
The Future of AI in Media: Smarter, Seamless, and Invisible
Agentic AI represents a transformative trend in technology: intelligent systems that work autonomously to deliver smarter results. By understanding what agentic AI is and how it works, businesses can better leverage its potential to save time, improve experiences, understand its impact, and drive success.
At MediaViz, we’ve embraced the principles of agentic AI to create solutions that are fast, adaptable, and invisible — empowering businesses to do more with less effort. Curious how MediaViz can fit into your business? Contact us today to learn more.