Agentic AI, Adoption Barriers, and Corgis in Bowties: A #WxAISocialSaturday Recap with Reut Lazo & Jenny Kay Pollock

What We Talk About When We Talk About Agentic AI

This week’s #WxAISocialSaturday came with extra charge—literally. Following the electric Future of Agentic AI panel hosted by WOMEN x AI, our community gathered to reflect on what it means when AI can act on its own, without being prompted every step of the way. We first covered the definition of agentic AI. Then the conversation spanned healthcare and enterprise software to personal productivity, agentic AI is emerging as one of the most debated and potentially transformative concepts in today’s AI landscape. The crowd at the panel? Standing room only. The LinkedIn comments? Lit up.

This week’s thread didn’t just rehash the event—it expanded it. Women from across roles and industries shared their thoughts, their photos, and their realities on how we build AI that’s safe, inclusive, and empowering.

About the Hosts: Reut Lazo & Jenny Kay Pollock

Reut Lazo Co-Founder and Co-CEO of WOMEN x AI is a Lead AI Product Manager, board member, and passionate voice on AI ethics and user-centric development. Known for pushing the conversation beyond the buzzwords, she’s a strong advocate for internal education and responsibility in tech adoption.

Jenny Kay Pollock, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of WOMEN x AI, brings wit, warmth, and leadership to every conversation—this week with bonus cameos from Mr. Tater the Corgi. She keeps our community inclusive, curious, and just the right amount of playful.

The Community Speaks: AI Adoption, Safety, and Smiles

🤝 Overcoming Internal Resistance to AI Adoption

One of the standout themes was how to navigate the emotional and cultural barriers that prevent AI from taking root in teams and companies.

“FOMO is a powerful motivator. Show what competitors are doing with AI—and what your org might be missing.” — Reut Lazo

“Adoption happens when people see real pain points solved. Start there.” — Holly Uber

“Internal resistance often comes from fear: job loss, confusion, or distrust. Address it with education and transparency.” — Jasmeen Bal

Others reflected on how resistance isn’t just technical—it’s generational, cultural, and deeply personal. As one member said:

“It’s not adoption, it’s trust-building.”

We also loved Tara Thompson’s reminder that rushing into AI tools—without internal policy or clarity—can cause as much damage as inaction.

⚠ Keeping Agentic AI Safe in High-Risk Environments

From hospitals to financial systems, the stakes for AI safety couldn’t be higher. The community emphasized guardrails, oversight, and ethics at every layer.

“Human-in-the-loop frameworks are essential. Agentic AI should augment—not replace—expert judgment.” — Jasmeen Bal

“We need AI disaster plans. Run fire drills. If something breaks, will your team know what to do?” — Summer Poletti

“Don’t be a bystander. Ask questions. Test the tech. It’s everyone’s responsibility.” — Reut Lazo

Tara Thompson shared a cautionary tale about a promising agentic AI tool with a shady privacy policy—reminding us that due diligence must be part of innovation. If it’s free, you might be the product.

📸 Smile-Worthy Pics from Around the AI World

Every #WxAISocialSaturday post includes a joy spark: a photo on your camera roll that always makes you smile.

This week’s highlights included:

• 😎 Jazz fest dogs in sunglasses

• 🐾 Mr. Tater the Corgi living his best beach life

• 🧁 A Purple Barbie birthday cake turned culinary horror show (RIP Barbie’s legs)

• 🎭 Opera night with tears and transformation

• 🏞️ San Francisco’s “Hearts” public art raising funds for city hospitals

• 🧳 Remote work in the Mediterranean (plus startup planning, naturally)

• 🐈‍⬛ Cats named Fry sunbathing on the windowsill

  
  

Because in the middle of all this tech talk, we’re still human. And sometimes, the algorithm needs a little joy.

Highlights

“Going from the ‘why’ to the ‘how’ is where the shift really happens.” — Tara Thompson

“Agentic AI should never act unchecked. Transparency, context, and control are non-negotiables.” — Ellie Bramer

Related Resource 🔗

✨ AI Titans Tools Council by WOMEN x AI If you’re navigating tool overload, this post breaks down the AI landscape—what’s useful, what’s hype, and what to avoid.

Looking Ahead

This week reminded us: building a better future with AI is a collective effort. Whether you're debugging code, leading strategy, or making cake (with or without doll limbs), your voice matters.

Let’s keep learning, laughing, and leading—together.

💬 Join Next Week’s #WxAISocialSaturday

Be part of our global community of women in AI. Every Saturday on LinkedIn, we share one prompt and thousands of insights. All you have to do is show up and speak up.

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