From automation to agency: The paradigm of agentic AI across technology, society and the ontology of work

Abstract

The evolution of artificial intelligence is redefining the relationship between humans and machines, shifting from traditional automation toward systems endowed with agency. Unlike conventional AI, which primarily supports or executes predefined tasks, agentic AI systems are capable of autonomous decision-making, proactive goal generation, learning from experience and coordinated action within complex environments. This shift represents not only a technological advancement but an ontological transformation, as machines increasingly operate as cognitive agents rather than passive tools. This article adopts an interdisciplinary perspective to examine the paradigm of agentic AI, tracing its evolution from earlier forms of automation and outlining its defining characteristics, architectures and application domains. It then analyses the implications for work and organisational structures, highlighting how agentic systems reconfigure roles, redistribute cognitive labour and enable new forms of human–machine co-agency. Finally, the paper addresses the ethical, legal and governance challenges raised by autonomous agents, arguing for responsible adoption frameworks that preserve human centrality, accountability and social justice in emerging socio-technical systems.