Unlocking the future of agentic AI

In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving, PEX Network’s Agentic AI APAC Deep Dive was more than just a discussion – it was a critical exploration of AI that can think for itself.

Thought leaders from banking, insurance, telecom industries and the Global AI Ethics Institute gathered to dissect the buzzword that is agentic AI – a concept still in its infancy, yet brimming with potential!

What is agentic AI?

Kicking off the discussion, the notion of agentic AI was introduced, with the pertinent question of how it will shape the future of organizations a key focus. Opinion leaders David Thompson, head of automation for institutional division at ANZ, Tim Johnson, head of automation at Suncorp Group and Utkarsh Singh, chapter lead and product owner – intelligent automation at Telstra, shared hared insights from their respective sectors.

They agreed that while AI is maturing, agentic AI remains a distant, but intriguing frontier. The consensus? The business world will proceed with caution. As companies explore AI’s ability to reason, consume unstructured data and self-learn, they must first define clear objectives, manage risks and ensure transparency to get the foundations and fundamentals right. 

Watch the full panel discussion here!

Addressing agentic AI challenges

The speakers turned to practical challenges: data privacy, security and integrating AI into legacy systems, emphasizing the importance of understanding the process before automating it and ensuring AI-driven outcomes align with business goals. A key takeaway was the shift from a binary automation mindset to a more fluid approach – where humans remain in the loop, offering oversight and feedback.

Johnson underscored the need for orchestrating long-running processes and striking the right balance between build versus buy strategies. Thompson advocated for incremental adoption, while Singh championed human-centered design in AI agent development. The golden rule? Don’t rush into complex implementations; start small, iterate and refine.

A recurring theme was data quality – AI’s Achilles’ heel. Without clean, structured data, even the most sophisticated AI models crumble. Thompson acknowledged the paradox: AI depends on quality data, yet data quality is often improved through AI. Solving this puzzle will define AI’s success.

Register for All Access: Agentic AI 2025

Championing AI ethics and governance

Shifting gears, the discussion then turned to AI ethics and governance. Azadeh Williams, executive board member of the Global AI Ethics Institute, shared her passion for responsible AI development. Joining her, Gladwin Mendez, a recognized Forbes Tech 100 global leader in AI governance, outlined the five pillars for ethical AI: strategy, people, process, technology and data. His message was clear: organizations must simplify AI policies, aligning them with company values.

One of the session’s defining moments was the question of who should own AI strategy within a company? While the chief AI officer role is gaining traction, Mendez stressed that, without strong foundations in governance and data management, such positions could be ineffective. He also emphasized that ethical AI isn’t just about compliance – it’s about culture, urging organizations to prioritize AI education, literacy and accountability at the board level.

To conclude, Mendez shared a success story from the APAC region. He spotlighted a telecommunications company using AI to combat spam calls, potentially saving millions in fraud prevention, a testament to AI’s power when aligned with human values.

As the session wrapped up, the audience was left with a powerful call to action: continue the conversation, challenge assumptions and shape the future of agentic AI with responsibility and foresight. The age of AI autonomy may be on the horizon, but the human element remains irreplaceable.

Watch the full panel discussion now!

With discussions like these, the future of AI isn’t just being imagined, it’s being built.

PEX Report 2024 global state of process excellence

PEX Network's annual report reveals the current state and future trends of process excellence. Based on a study profiling hundreds of global process excellence leaders, the report provides insights on how to leverage innovation, generative AI, and process intelligence to achieve operational excellence, customer-centricity, and organizational growth. Download your copy of the PEX Report 2024/2025 today and benchmark your process excellence journey against your peers.

Download Now