TECHNICAL PAGES
An agent works through a cycle: receiving a situation, interpreting its job, finding what it needs and progressing the work within its permitted boundaries.
A request, event or workflow state gives the agent a reason to begin.
It applies its objective, instructions and available context.
It finds relevant approved knowledge or data and assesses what is needed.
It produces an output or uses a permitted tool to progress the work.
It records the outcome where needed and brings exceptions to people.
An answer responds to a question. Reasoning interprets the facts and task. Acting uses a permitted capability. Orchestration coordinates a process across steps, systems and people. Agentic AI becomes particularly useful when it can manage the work around a professional process, rather than simply generate a reply.
Sophisticated agents may repeat this cycle many times, while a simple agent may complete it once.
PRACTICAL LENS
Adoption requires the firm to examine processes and handoffs, not only individual interactions with AI. Clear triggers, ownership, exception paths and completion points make it possible to improve a workflow without losing control of the work.
PRACTICAL LENS
A client-facing service may be able to manage a sequence of work — gathering information, preparing a result and coordinating next steps — rather than merely answering a question. The sequence still needs defined service boundaries and people responsible for exceptions.