AI Glossary Term

What does “Agentic Workflow” mean?

Definition

A multi-step process where an AI system plans, executes, checks results, and iterates toward a goal.

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How Agentic Workflow works

Diagram for Agentic Workflow, steps in order: Goal: prepare a weekly sales report; then Plan the steps; then Run steps: query data, draft, chart; then Check the result against the goal; then Revise or finish.Goal: prepare a weekly sales reportPlan the stepsRun steps: query data, draft, chartCheck the result against the goalRevise or finish

Example

An assistant asked to prepare a weekly report plans its steps, pulls figures from a database, drafts the summary, then reviews the draft against the original request and fixes gaps before handing it over.

Why it matters

Splitting a goal into steps with checks often gives more reliable results than a single prompt. It also takes more time and cost, and every step can add errors.

Common questions

Agentic workflow vs AI agent?

A workflow is the multi-step process; an agent is the system that carries it out. Some workflows are fixed in advance and others let the model choose the steps.

Why add checks?

Reviewing intermediate results catches mistakes before they build up.

Does it need human oversight?

For important tasks, yes. People often approve key steps or review final output.

Related terms

Agentic LoopAn iterative cycle where an AI agent observes, plans, acts, and reflects until it completes a goal or hits a stop condition.AI AgentA software system that can observe, reason, and take actions to achieve a goal, often using tools and memory.Human-in-the-LoopA workflow where humans review, guide, or override AI outputs.AGI (Artificial General Intelligence)A hypothetical AI system that can perform most intellectual tasks at a human level across many domains.Algorithmic TransparencyHow clearly an AI system's logic, data sources, and limitations are documented and understandable.API (Application Programming Interface)A structured way for one software system to send requests to and receive responses from another system.

Learn more in our free guides

AI Workflow AutomationApache Airflow for ML WorkflowsAgentic Tool OrchestrationAgentic RAG

Test yourself

AI Workflow Automation QuizApache Airflow for ML Workflows QuizAgentic Tool Orchestration Quiz

See also

Zero-Shot LearningAI ActXAI (Explainable AI)Alignment TaxWord EmbeddingBenchmark LeakageWeightCausal Inference