Agentic AI is particularly effective for repetitive, data-intensive tasks, including generating reports, tracking performance, and detecting unusual activity or behaviour.
The UAE is moving toward becoming the first government in the world where 50% of services are powered by artificial intelligence. This shift will involve both the public and private sectors adopting agentic AI, either by training employees and government officials or by supporting companies in integrating AI into their everyday operations.
In early May, Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced an initiative to speed up the use of agentic AI in the private sector. Soon after, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Ruler of Dubai, stated that the UAE government aims for 50% of its services to be operated by agentic AI, marking a global first.
But what exactly is agentic AI, and how different is it from generative AI like Claude and ChatGPT?
What is agentic AI?
Agentic AI is semi- or fully autonomous, meaning it can make decisions and act on its own without needing step-by-step prompts, explained Hetarth Patel, Vice President for MEA, Americas and APAC at WebEngage.
Unlike today’s AI systems, which typically require continuous user input, agentic AI can take a goal and independently work toward achieving it. It determines what needs to be done, connects with relevant systems, carries out tasks, and alerts humans when intervention is required.
This capability makes it especially useful for repetitive, data-heavy work such as report generation, campaign monitoring, and detecting unusual behaviour. It can also suggest the next best actions while executing tasks, Patel added.
However, human oversight remains essential. As Patel noted, AI may recommend actions, but humans must define the rules and boundaries within which it operates.
Impact on employees
In the short term, agentic AI is expected to ease workloads by handling routine tasks like updates and follow-ups, allowing employees to focus on higher-value work.
In the longer term, job roles are likely to evolve. Work will shift away from step-by-step execution toward tasks that require judgement, creativity, and decision-making.
Some experts also warn that certain roles could be fully automated, particularly those involving repetitive tasks with low levels of judgement or contextual understanding.
What agentic AI may look like in practice
Many people already interact with early forms of agentic AI without realising it. For example, in call centres, AI systems can now automatically transcribe calls, analyse sentiment, detect customer frustration, and assess agent performance—tasks that were once done manually.
As the technology develops further, agentic AI is expected to take on more autonomous and collaborative roles across workplaces and everyday services.
