What is an Agenticist?
I created this term to describe anyone who is AI-first in how they approach and solve problems. Agenticists don't just use AI as a tool - they think with AI as their primary problem-solving partner.
The Agenticist Definition
An Agenticist is anyone who is AI-first in how they approach and solve problems. You don't need to be an engineer or technical expert - you just need to think with AI as your primary problem-solving partner.
Agenticists treat AI as an intelligent collaborator, not just a tool. Whether you're a marketer using AI to understand customer behavior, a CEO making strategic decisions with AI insights, or a teacher personalizing education with AI assistance - if you think AI-first, you're an Agenticist.
It's about mindset, not job title. Agenticists ask "How can AI help me think through this?" instead of "What task can I automate?" They collaborate with AI to achieve outcomes that neither human nor AI could reach alone.
Core Principles
AI-First Thinking
Default to asking "How can AI help?" before considering traditional approaches
Collaborative Intelligence
Work WITH AI as a thinking partner, not just use AI as a tool
Outcome-Focused
Focus on achieving better results, not just automating existing processes
Continuous Learning
Constantly improve how you collaborate with AI across all areas of work
Agenticists Across Every Field
Being an Agenticist isn't about your job title - it's about your mindset. Here are examples of AI-first thinking across different professions:
Marketing Agenticist
Doesn't just use AI for content creation. Collaborates with AI to understand customer psychology, predict trends, and craft strategies that resonate on emotional and logical levels.
"How can AI help me understand what my customers really want?"
Business Agenticist
Uses AI as a strategic thinking partner for complex decisions, scenario planning, and competitive analysis. AI becomes part of the executive decision-making process.
"What scenarios am I not considering? Help me think through this."
Teaching Agenticist
Collaborates with AI to personalize learning paths, understand individual student needs, and create adaptive educational experiences that evolve with each student.
"How can we help this specific student learn better?"
Sales Agenticist
Partners with AI to understand customer motivations, predict objections, and craft conversations that build genuine relationships rather than just closing deals.
"What does this customer really need to succeed?"
Medical Agenticist
Works with AI to consider differential diagnoses, understand patient patterns, and explore treatment options while maintaining the human connection that defines great healthcare.
"What patterns might I be missing in this case?"
Legal Agenticist
Collaborates with AI to research precedents, analyze complex cases, and develop legal strategies while focusing on the human judgment that matters most in law.
"Help me explore all angles of this legal argument."
Why I Created This Term
The Problem
- ×No term existed for AI-first thinking as a professional mindset
- ×People were limited to job titles like "X using AI"
- ×AI collaboration was seen as technical skill, not thinking style
- ×The profound mindset shift was invisible and unnamed
The Solution
- ✓Creates identity for AI-first professionals in any field
- ✓Emphasizes collaborative thinking over tool usage
- ✓Transcends job titles and technical expertise
- ✓Names the mindset that will define the future
Why the Agentic Future Needs Agenticists
Complexity is Exploding
As AI capabilities expand exponentially, the complexity of designing intelligent systems requires specialized expertise in agentic architecture.
Integration Challenges
Traditional approaches fail when AI needs to work seamlessly with humans in dynamic, context-sensitive environments.
Competitive Advantage
Organizations with agentic systems will outpace those still treating AI as advanced automation. Agenticists make this transformation possible.
Agenticist vs. Traditional AI Approaches
| Aspect | Traditional AI User | Agenticist |
|---|---|---|
| Mindset | "What can I automate with AI?" | "How can AI help me think through this?" |
| AI Relationship | AI as a tool to use | AI as a thinking partner |
| Problem Approach | Think first, then apply AI | Think WITH AI from the start |
| Learning Style | Learn specific AI tools | Learn to collaborate with AI |
| Goal | Replace human tasks | Enhance human capabilities |
| Professional Identity | Job title + "using AI" | AI-first professional in any field |
My Journey to Coining "Agenticist"
The Realization
After years of building AI systems, I realized that the most transformative projects weren't those where AI replaced humans, but where AI and humans formed genuine partnerships. The existing terminology couldn't capture this fundamental shift in how we think about artificial intelligence in business contexts.
The Philosophy
Traditional AI implementation focuses on task automation. But the future belongs to systems where AI exhibits agency - the ability to act independently, make contextual decisions, and collaborate intelligently with humans. This requires a completely different architectural mindset.
The Practice
As an Agenticist, I don't just build AI tools - I architect intelligent ecosystems where humans and AI work together to achieve outcomes neither could reach alone. Every system I design exhibits agency, adaptability, and collaborative intelligence.
Ready to Work with an Agenticist?
Experience the difference between traditional AI consulting and true agentic architecture. Let's build AI systems that don't just automate - they collaborate.