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LATHICAI Glossary

Agents & Agentic AI

Agent sprawl

The growth of many AI agents without adequate coordination, visibility or management.

Example

Different teams create overlapping agents with unclear owners.

Why people use it

It helps organizations notice when agents multiply faster than their management processes.

What you'll hear

“We don't know who owns half these agents.”

What this means for you

Maintain ownership and review redundant or unnecessary agent permissions.

Can you control it?

Sometimes

Sometimes. Your choices depend on the tool and your access. The settings available to an everyday user may differ from those available to the people running it.

Common questions

Is having many agents inherently a problem?
No. The issue is unmanaged complexity, access and responsibility.
Can two agents accidentally do the same work?
Yes. Overlapping responsibilities can create repeated actions or conflicting changes.
Can an unused agent still create risk?
Yes. It may retain access or credentials even after people stop using it.

Related terms

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