AI has always needed some human intervention. Humans had to be present to use AI-generated data for a use case. Agentic AI marks a dramatic shift. It can make decisions independently. Agentic AI is the answer to all enterprise automation needs because not only does it automate processes, but it also makes decisions by itself about how to automate, adjusts itself, and updates without external input. This powerful and cost-cutting new technology can drive efficiency and productivity in 2025 and beyond, freeing up staff to perform higher-level tasks that AI cannot yet complete.
This article defines agentic AI, how it enhances productivity, streamlines operations, and reduces costs, VPNs and cybersecurity, and what the future might hold. By the end of the article, you’ll know if agentic AI will be appropriate for your organization.
What Is Agentic AI?
Agentic AI is the next step in AI because it can make decisions without human input. But AI has been able to make decisions on its own for a while, right? Not exactly.
Agentic AI is different from traditional AI in several ways, like:
● Autonomy: Agentic AI can make independent decisions and take actions based on its reasoning, while traditional AI typically requires human input for decision-making and lacks full autonomy.
● Goal-Oriented: Agentic AI has a design profile to achieve specific goals through complex problem-solving, while traditional AI often focuses on task-specific solutions without broader goal alignment.
● Learning Flexibility: Agentic AI can adapt and learn from a variety of experiences, making it more flexible in dynamic environments. However, traditional AI is generally more rigid, relying on predefined rules and datasets.
The benefits of this new technology are that it can use its autonomous decision-making for automation to cut costs and reduce human error.
Examples of How Agentic AI Enhances Productivity and Saves Money
Agentic AI is most useful when organizations set it to work in automation. It fits this environment and the associated tasks perfectly because it can automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks.
This approach allows employees to focus on activities only humans can do, like providing a warm, human customer service experience or researching the next technology to stay on top. Three examples of how this works in practice fall into supply chain, customer support, and HR and talent acquisition.
● How it works: Agentic AI can autonomously optimize inventory levels, adjust procurement schedules, and route shipments based on real-time data like demand fluctuations, weather conditions, and supply chain disruptions.
● Benefit: This reduces the need for human intervention, minimizes stock outs or overstocking, and lowers operational costs by automatically adjusting decisions to avoid costly delays or excess inventory.
● How it works: Agentic AI can independently handle customer queries, troubleshoot problems, and escalate issues to the appropriate department when necessary. It can learn from customer interactions, improving its ability to resolve issues without human assistance.
● Benefit: This reduces labor costs by automating routine support tasks, speeds up response times, and improves customer satisfaction, while human agents can focus on more complex issues.
Human Resources and Talent Acquisition
● How it works: Agentic AI can independently screen resumes, assess candidate qualifications, and even conduct initial interview rounds by analyzing responses and matching candidates with job requirements.
● Benefit: This streamlines the hiring process, saving time and reducing costs associated with manual screening while improving the quality of hires by making more data-driven decisions.
Many large consultancies are also investing in agentic technology. Deloitte and EY, for example, are both experimenting with this technology to improve data-driven, autonomous decision-making, reduce costs, and increase productivity.
VPNs and Cybersecurity in the Age of Agentic AI
VPNs are important in every technology you use that processes data and agentic processes massive amounts to make informed decisions for your organization. Therefore, it needs protection to ensure your business decisions, and the data behind them, don’t fall into the wrong hands.
Another really crucial base to cover is remote and cloud workers. Because these employees don’t use secure, on-premise systems, they may be vulnerable to attacks from malicious parties. Secure them by purchasing or using a free VPN copy for off-site staff. This point is especially crucial in finance or SaaS vendors, where organizations hold thousands of customer bank details.
So, where does agentic AI come in?
Organizations can use agentic AI alongside VPNs by:
● Allowing AI to monitor network traffic autonomously.
● Detecting anomalies.
● Respond to potential threats in real time.
These measures enhance security by proactively identifying and mitigating risks, while VPNs ensure secure communication channels.
Conclusion
Agentic AI is transforming business operations and unlocking productivity gains. It is the next evolution of AI because it can make decisions autonomously.
Agentic AI holds many benefits over traditional AI, which is encouraging organizations to invest and beat the competition:
● Autonomy: Agentic AI makes independent decisions, while traditional AI needs human input.
● Goal-Oriented: Agentic AI focuses on achieving specific goals, unlike traditional AI.
● Learning Flexibility: Agentic AI adapts to experiences, while traditional AI follows rules.
Businesses need to start exploring agentic AI to secure their operations with VPNs and maximize efficiency and security and win against market peers with the latest AI technology.