According to The Guardian, job vacancies demanding “Agentic AI” skills have surged by a staggering 1,587% in the past year.
As a mathematician and a life-long sceptic (one who treats internet statistics with the same caution as a kebab van outside a night club), my BS detector went off.
Of course the numbers look dramatic—twelve months ago, “Agentic AI” was a phrase understood by, at most, three people and a small dog in Silicon Valley*.
Mathematically, if you start with a small number, any increase percentage increase is going to look huge.
Another stat in the same article caught my attention. 80% of workers believe AI will affect their daily work tasks.
Obviously, (and I would say this wouldn’t I?) I think AI will have a positive impact the majority of people working in professional and service-related jobs, especially in regulated industries.
So, what’s a sensible person to do?
- Get Curious, Not Terrified: Instead of succumbing to the hype (or the existential dread), start by asking what “AI agents” actually are. Seek out real-world examples in your sector. Case studies trump clickbait headlines every time.
- Upskill with Purpose: Don’t just dabble. Identify which AI skills matter in your domain. There are now more courses, workshops, and communities than you can shake a stick at, so make use of them.
- Experiment Safely: Try out AI tools in low-risk settings. It’s far better to discover their quirks now than when your job depends on them.
- Champion Education & Governance: Push for clear guidance and training in your organisation. The answer isn’t more regulation, it’s smarter education and sensible practice.
- Stay Adaptable: The landscape is changing faster than a politician’s promises in election season. Staying open to new opportunities to include AI in your workflows will help you surf the wave rather than be swept away by it.
The numbers may be headline-grabbing, but the best response isn’t panic, it’s practical action.
*Disclaimer: A dubious internet statistic made up by me. And I think the number of Agentic AI experts may have now risen to five, and that includes the dog.
