The Future of Agentic AI: 15 Game-Changing Learnings from Our Expert Panel with Nvidia, CoreWeave, Wayfound & More
- Jenny Kay Pollock
- Jul 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 23
Agentic AI is no longer just a theoretical buzzword. It’s here, it’s autonomous—and it’s already delivering real business value.
At WOMEN x AI’s packed panel and mixer in San Francisco—The Future of Agentic AI: Real-World Impact, Business Value, and What’s Next—we brought together over 150 AI professionals, founders, and technologists to unpack what makes this new wave of intelligent systems different, why it matters now, and what’s coming next.
Hosted in partnership with The Battery, the event featured powerhouse voices from Nvidia, BlackRock, Wayfound, CoreWeave, illumyn Impact, and more.
Our expert panel broke down the technical and ethical layers of agentic AI while spotlighting urgent opportunities for women to lead its evolution.
💡 Here are the Top 15 Learnings from the Event:
1. Agentic AI is the evolution beyond automation and generative AI.
Unlike earlier AI phases, agentic systems don’t just generate or classify—they act autonomously to complete workflows and make context-aware decisions.
2. Clean, “fit-for-purpose” data is mission-critical.
It’s not just about good data—it’s about the right data. Agents need structured, domain-specific knowledge to deliver safe, accurate outcomes.
3. Agentic AI is already delivering measurable ROI.
From reducing customer support call volumes by 90% to autonomously managing investor communications, the business cases are strong—and growing.
4. Startups can scale with AI-native org structures.
Wayfound operates with 6 humans and 24 AI agents—handling everything from product to marketing to sales—with agents trained and supervised like full-time employees.
5. Biggest barrier? Human resistance and internal adoption.
The tech works. The challenge is change management: getting teams to trust, test, and embrace AI systems in daily workflows.
6. Guardrails are no longer optional—they’re legal necessities.
With court cases holding companies liable for AI agents’ actions, supervision frameworks like agent managers and alerting systems are becoming critical infrastructure.
7. Human-in-the-loop governance is here to stay.
AI agents need oversight, escalation protocols, and ethical guidelines—just like any employee. Autonomy must always be balanced with accountability.
8. Boards need AI fluency now.
From risk to workforce impact, board members must understand agentic AI’s implications—or risk being left behind.
9. Four critical competencies boards are looking for in AI-fluent members:
AI business strategy
Risk, compliance & policy expertise
Data literacy & metrics
Workforce transformation leadership
10. AI governance must start from the ground up.
Governance is not just a boardroom issue—it must be embedded in data practices, development workflows, and company culture.
11. Open-source and multi-agent ecosystems are transforming AI infrastructure.
The future is decentralized, interoperable, and collaborative—think “Internet of Agents” built on standard protocols and shared intelligence.
12. Quantum computing is on the horizon—but not essential yet.
While quantum offers exciting compute potential, today’s agentic systems thrive on orchestration, optimization, and strong data pipelines.
13. AI + blockchain = futureproof governance.
As agents make decisions independently, technologies like blockchain may help verify agent actions, enable transparency, and establish digital accountability.
14. Agentic AI is an opportunity to close—not widen—tech’s gender gap.
From board leadership to policy design, diverse voices must shape how AI is used, governed, and scaled. We must design for equity from the start.
15. Women in AI: Don’t wait to be ready—just get started.
You don’t need a CS degree to break in. Bring your subject matter expertise, curiosity, and willingness to experiment.
“The best way to break into AI? Start using it. Play. Learn. Prompt. Lead.”
Want more insights on agentic AI? Check out the community discussion recap and our event summary on LinkedIn.
We’re Just Getting Started
From risk and governance to scaling and opportunity, the message was clear: agentic AI is already reshaping business—and we need more women leading the charge.
Whether you're a technologist, product manager, investor, or policy expert, there’s space for you in this movement. And we’re here to support your journey every step of the way.
✨ Want in? Join our WxAI Membership (it's free!) you'll meet fellow women and allies in AI and help shape what’s next—together.
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