🌟 Top 10 Takeaways from “Beyond the Hype: Agentic AI” with Women x AI

Panelist Speaking on Agentic AI

As AI continues to evolve, so does the language—and hype—around it. Agentic AI is one of the most talked-about trends in 2025, but what does it actually mean, and how can women in tech use it to drive impact? At WOMEN x AI’s recent virtual event, “Beyond the Hype: Agentic AI,” we brought together builders, leaders, and curious minds to unpack the real-world use cases, challenges, and opportunities of this emerging field. Whether you're exploring tools, designing workflows, or just learning what’s possible, here are the top 10 insights from the discussion. 1. Agentic AI Is Goal-Driven, Not Just Prompt-Driven

Agentic AI systems are designed to autonomously achieve goals—not just respond to prompts. Think of them as digital teammates that plan, take action, and adapt in real-time.

“They’re like junior engineers with their own manuals and tools.” — Annie Xu, Google

2. Start With the Problem, Not the Tech

Before choosing a tool or model, define your business challenge. Map out your goals and ideal outcomes first—then build or buy the right solution.

“Start with markers and a whiteboard, not a model.” — Alison McCauley

3. Human Oversight is Non-Negotiable

Governance, supervision, and feedback loops are essential. Agentic AI systems need to be monitored for errors, biases, and unintended outcomes.

“We need to sprint toward AI governance—there’s no playbook, you have to create it.” — Alison McCauley

4. Trust is the Currency of AI Adoption

Users won’t re-engage with agents they can’t trust. Consistency, transparency, and performance matter more than flash.

“If Gobby [our agent] makes bad matches, people won’t come back. It’s that simple.” — Meg McWilliams, Gossip Goblin

5. Tooling Depends on Your Use Case and Comfort Level

From open-source builders like Flowise to structured courses via Maven, there are agentic tools for every level—whether you're coding or not.

6. Agentic AI is a Continuum, Not a Checkbox

Not every system marketed as “agentic” actually is. Real agentic systems act with autonomy and adaptability across contexts.

“We’re seeing lots of hype—but only a small percentage of tools are truly agentic.” — Alison McCauley

7. AI Agents Can Be a Gamechanger for Small Teams

Whether it’s booking flights, writing emails, or scanning web data—agents can radically increase productivity for lean teams.

8. Feedback Is a Powerful Tool—Use It

Most platforms now allow real-time feedback. Use thumbs-up/down and write notes—developers actually rely on it to refine models.

“Your feedback does get triaged. Don’t skip it.” — Annie Xu, Google

9. You Can—and Should—Build for Trust

From emotional tone detection to ethical guardrails, designing with trust in mind is a critical layer of agentic UX.

“Designing for trust is as important as designing for function.” — Jasmeen Bal, ChargePoint

10. Learning in Community Makes All the Difference

Agentic AI can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to go it alone. Learning networks like Women x AI make the journey more inclusive, collaborative, and joyful.

“The Maven course gave me the confidence to build. I wasn’t alone.” — Ruby Vitatoe

Agentic AI is not just another buzzword—it’s a powerful shift in how we think about productivity, automation, and the future of work. But like all AI, it’s only as good as the people designing, deploying, and questioning it. These takeaways reflect the collective wisdom of a growing global network of women committed to shaping a more ethical and inclusive AI future. Want more takeaways from this event? Check out our full recap from the event.