Apr 24
Loading video player...
Agentic AI is one of the most talked-about trends in enterprise AI, AI architecture, and digital transformation, but how much of it is real and how much is hype? In this video, David Linthicum explains what agentic AI actually is, how AI agents work, and why so many companies are overestimating the business value of autonomous AI systems. You’ll learn where agentic AI can deliver real results, especially in complex enterprise environments that require distributed decision-making, autonomous workflows, and dynamic system orchestration. David also breaks down why agentic AI is often overhyped, overused, and more expensive than expected once you factor in AI governance, enterprise architecture, operational risk, observability, and the true cost of deploying AI at scale. This video also covers four critical attributes of successful agentic AI use cases that many architects and technology leaders miss, including dynamic environments, bounded action spaces, edge-based decision value, and recovery and control in production systems. If you are evaluating enterprise AI strategy, AI automation, AI agents in business, or the future of autonomous enterprise systems, this discussion provides a practical and grounded perspective. Watch if you want a realistic view of agentic AI in the enterprise—where it works, where it fails, and what most experts are getting wrong. Bio With over 30 years of experience in enterprise technology, David Linthicum is a globally recognized thought leader, innovator, and influencer in cloud computing, AI, and cybersecurity. He has authored over 17 best-selling books, over 7,000 articles, and 50 courses on LinkedIn Learning. He is also a frequent keynote speaker, podcast host, and media contributor on topics related to digital transformation, cloud architecture, AI, and cloud security. Reference(s) for this video: 1. Anthropic argues that effective AI agents are usually built from simple, composable patterns rather than unnecessary complexity, which strongly supports the point that agentic AI is often overhyped and should be applied pragmatically. https://www.anthropic.com/research/building-effective-agents 2. Gartner predicts that over 40% of agentic AI projects will be canceled by the end of 2027 because of escalating costs, unclear business value, or weak risk controls, directly reinforcing the argument that agentic AI is frequently overused and expensive. https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2025-06-25-gartner-predicts-over-40-percent-of-agentic-ai-projects-will-be-canceled-by-end-of-2027 3. McKinsey reports that while many enterprises are experimenting with agents, fewer than 10% have scaled them to tangible value, which supports the conclusion that agentic AI is promising but only effective in select use cases. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-technology/our-insights/building-the-foundations-for-agentic-ai-at-scale 4. Microsoft’s Azure Architecture Center frames AI agents in terms of specific orchestration patterns for complex workflows, which aligns with the view that agentic AI belongs in gnarly, high-variation systems rather than everywhere. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/ai-ml/guide/ai-agent-design-patterns 5. NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework emphasizes governance, monitoring, and control for generative and autonomous AI systems, backing the point that observability, guardrails, and recovery matter more than raw model intelligence in enterprise deployments. https://www.nist.gov/itl/ai-risk-management-framework Where you can find me: Check out my other AI focused YouTube Channel “Dave Is Not AI”: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidIsNotAI My Gen AI Architecture Course on GoCloudCareers: https://www.gocloudarchitects.com/generative-ai-architect-program-enrollment-david-linthicum My InfoWorld Blog: https://www.infoworld.com/author/David-Linthicum/ Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlinthicum/ Follow me in X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidlinthicum Become a Cloud Computing Insider channel member, and access my videos weeks ahead of general release: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW9CXYyHdzI0w8icz4gHi3g/join My LinkedIn learning courses: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/david-linthicum Would you like to engage me for AI and cloud project mentoring services? I can be found at david@linthicumresearch.com My latest books: https://a.co/d/c7YK7lz https://a.co/d/0cJXtqs Video sponsorship opportunities: Email me at david@linthicumresearch.com Note: I don’t work with agencies; principals only, please. Join as a channel member, and get videos weeks before they go out to the public: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW9CXYyHdzI0w8icz4gHi3g/join