06/13/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/13/2025 12:26
Imagine a world where artificial intelligence, or AI, completes tasks autonomously by planning, reasoning and taking specific actions.
According to today's leading innovators, that future isn't too far away; it's becoming a reality through agentic AI.
As the University of Cincinnati's corporate crossroads and startup launchpad, the team at UC's 1819 Innovation Hub keenly follows developments in agentic AI. Building partner Microsoft recently led a discussion on AI agents from the heart of the Cincinnati Innovation District.
Here are the takeaways.
According to Microsoft, agentic AI is "an autonomous AI system that plans, reasons and acts to complete tasks with minimal human oversight." Current AI forms - think ChatGPT and DeepSeek - typically require human prompting to complete assignments. Agentic AI flips that on its head.
Five key pieces of agentic AI were identified during Microsoft's event at the 1819 Innovation Hub. Below, we'll expand upon each:
Common large language model (LLM) tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Perplexity use generative AI. Photo/Vertigo3D
Generative AI is the form of artificial intelligence you're most likely familiar with. You may use it to ask for recipe recommendations, to craft work emails or to detect errors in computer code. The common theme with generative AI is that you give the tool a prompt, and it'll provide an output.
That's where the two forms of AI diverge. While generative AI tools such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude and Canva's Magic Studio produce results based on exact prompts, agentic AI completes tasks based on context clues.
So, how could AI agents be incorporated into both the workplace and our daily lives? Here are some realistic use cases:
Companies throughout the Cincinnati innovation ecosystem are using the top AI tools for business to boost efficiency - with AI agents, processes will become even quicker and smarter.
While agentic AI comes with many pros, its benefits will vary across different fields. Below are five work situations when Microsoft predicts AI agents could help:
When could agentic AI help? | How will it do so? | Real-world examples |
1. Automating tasks |
Performing complex or repetitive assignments |
Predictive maintenance |
2. Enhancing human capabilities |
Providing independent, data-driven guidance for big decisions |
Trading stocks efficiently |
3. Creating engaging experiences |
Unlocking personalized and interactive user experiences |
Video games that adapt based on user preferences |
4. Exploring new solutions |
Optimizing strategies, solving difficult problems and generating new designs |
Resolving healthcare issues |
5. Improving social or environmental outcomes |
Discovering breakthroughs through scalability and efficiency |
Advancing education and sustainability initiatives |
As time goes on, breakthroughs in AI and quantum computing will radically transform the way we work. The use cases mentioned above are just a few examples of agentic AI, but more will appear as the technology advances and both businesses and customers grow more accustomed to it.
UC's 1819 Innovation Hub is home to firms and startups researching and using AI. Photo/Brad Feinknopf
Cincinnati's tech community is making waves in AI and challenging innovation on the coasts, as seen below:
At the University of Cincinnati, we know that agentic AI is here to stay and recommend using it to grow your career in an AI-driven world. Don't get complacent, though - change comes fast in this rapidly growing field, and it's your responsibility to stay on top of up-and-coming innovation trends.
Featured image at top: Man working in a high-tech lab. Photo/Gorodenkoff via Adobe Stock
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