Agents & Agentic AI
Agent washing
Advertising ordinary automation or limited AI help as more independent and capable than it really is.
Example
A vendor calls a fixed sequence of steps a fully independent AI worker.
Why people use it
It helps buyers question inflated claims about an AI product's independence.
What you'll hear
“Show us what makes this an agent.”
What this means for you
Ask the system to demonstrate task adaptation, tools and exception handling.
Can you control it?
No
No direct control. This describes a wider issue, concept or result rather than something you can simply switch on or off in a tool.
Common questions
- Does using the word agent establish adaptive reasoning or autonomy?
- No. The label can be used loosely.
- Can fixed automation still be useful?
- Yes. The problem is misleading claims, not whether a simpler process has value.
- What can a demonstration reveal?
- Unexpected changes can show whether the system adapts or merely follows a fixed sequence.