Agentic web
The agentic web is the theoretical evolution of the Internet characterized by widespread integration of autonomous software agents that perform tasks on behalf of users. [1] These agents are usually powered by artificial intelligence (AI), and designed to understand user preferences, initiate actions, and make decisions across digital environments with minimal human intervention.[2]
Concept and origins
[edit]The agentic web represents an advancement of previous internet phases starting from Web 1.0 static information to Web 2.0 interactive social features and Web 3.0 semantic decentralized innovations. [3] The term "agentic" describes agency which represents the ability of an entity to operate independently. The web transitioned from human-initiated user interactions to automated decision-making through intelligent systems which perform delegated tasks. [4]
The term started to emerge as a concept during the early 2020s when people discussed AI-driven digital experiences and large language models and autonomous software agents.
Characteristics
[edit]The agentic web is generally characterized by the integration of autonomous software agents capable of performing tasks and making decisions with limited human input. These agents often operate based on user preferences and contextual information, enabling a higher degree of personalization in digital experiences. Users may delegate routine or complex tasks to these systems, such as managing calendars, curating content, or conducting transactions. [5]
In more advanced scenarios, multiple agents can coordinate across different platforms to accomplish compound objectives. The systems that underpin the agentic web typically incorporate contextual awareness, drawing on environmental and behavioral data to inform their actions and improve their effectiveness over time. [6]
Potential applications
[edit]The agentic web concept has already begun to appear in various everyday domains including online shopping and work tools and education and healthcare. Software agents in e-commerce help customers discover optimal deals while managing subscriptions and performing automatic purchases based on predefined conditions. Work agents perform three main functions which include scheduling meetings and managing emails and composing fundamental messages. [7]
These agents function in educational settings to modify lesson content according to student learning speed and produce educational materials that address specific student difficulties. Healthcare agents monitor patient data to provide automatic medication and appointment reminders which help patients maintain their health without needing continuous mental effort. [8]
Concerns and criticisms
[edit]The agentic web development has generated multiple issues regarding privacy protection and security measures and user self-governance. The effectiveness of agentic systems depends on processing extensive personal data which creates new risks for data misuse and unauthorized access and surveillance. Security becomes a challenge because autonomous agents operating on behalf of users face potential exploitation which could result in unintended actions or security breaches. [9]
The accountability of agents remains unclear when their decisions produce negative results. Some critics believe that increased dependence on automated systems will lead users to lose their ability to monitor their digital activities. The use of artificial intelligence to build agentic systems raises concerns about bias because these systems tend to duplicate or strengthen discriminatory patterns found in their training data. [10]
Related concepts
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Brudenell, David (2025-02-07). "Why 'agentic web' is the next term you need to understand". forbes.com.au. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Nuñez, Michael (2025-05-19). "Microsoft announces over 50 AI tools to build the 'agentic web' at Build 2025". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
- ^ Mauran, Cecily (2025-05-19). "What is agentic AI and why is everyone talking about it?". Mashable. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
- ^ "Unpacking the Three Eras of the Agentic Web Revolution". Decidr.ai. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
- ^ Patel, Nilay (2025-05-19). "Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott on the birth of the agentic web". The Verge. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
- ^ Knight, Will. "OpenAI Launches an Agentic, Web-Based Coding Tool". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
- ^ "Microsoft goes full agentic at Build 2025 with new AI tools, from Copilot coding agent to Discovery". The Indian Express. 2025-05-23. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
- ^ "Opera's new 'fully agentic' browser can surf the web for you". Engadget. 2025-05-28. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
- ^ "The Agentic AI Era Could Be the Internet's Return to Form". 2025-03-20. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
- ^ Nellis, Stephen (2025-05-19). "Microsoft wants AI 'agents' to work together and remember things". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-06-21.