Artificial Intelligence is evolving at lightning speed, and two terms youโll hear more and more often are Generative AI and Agentic AI. They may sound similar, but they work very differently and solve different kinds of problems.
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๐ญ. ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ โ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ
Generative AI is like a super-powered content creator.
It learns from huge amounts of data and then creates something new based on patterns it has learned.
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๐๐
๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐:
1. ChatGPT writing an article
2. Midjourney creating an original image
3. An AI music tool composing a tune
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๐๐ผ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐: You give it a prompt (a request), it predicts what should come next, and generates text, images, code, or audio accordingly.
Itโs great for:
Brainstorming ideas
Writing and design
Summarising or explaining concepts
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๐๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐: It doesnโt take action on its own, it needs you to guide it every step of the way.
๐ฎ. ๐๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ โ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฒ๐ฟ
Agentic AI takes things a step further.
Instead of just generating content, it can plan, decide, and act towards a goal with minimal human intervention.
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Think of it as:
An AI โagentโ that can break down your request into tasks, choose the right tools, and execute the work.
๐๐
๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐:
1.An AI that books your flight, reserves your hotel, and updates your calendar, all by itself
2.A cybersecurity AI that detects threats and automatically fixes vulnerabilities
3.An AI sales assistant that finds leads, sends emails, and follows up until a meeting is scheduled
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๐๐ผ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐: Agentic AI uses reasoning, memory, and the ability to chain multiple actions together. It doesnโt just answer, it does.
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๐๐ถ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐: It needs careful boundaries, safety checks, and integrations with the right systems to work effectively.
๐ฏ. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ
๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐: Creates outputs when asked. You are the driver.
๐๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐: Acts towards a goal, often without constant supervision. It can drive itself.
Generative AI is like hiring a talented freelancer. Agentic AI is like hiring a full-time employee who can take initiative and deliver results without you micromanaging.
We are entering a future where both will work side by side, and knowing the difference is your first step to using them wisely.
