From Generative To Agentic AI: Legal And Privacy Risks For Organizations

Introduction: Why Agentic AI is Different

A new phase in artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging: agentic AI. Unlike generative AI tools like ChatGPT, which respond to prompts, agentic AI goes beyond by taking autonomous actions such as sending emails, booking meetings, and updating records across systems. For example, an AI agent in HR could screen resumes and schedule interviews automatically by interacting with email and calendar systems. This delivers efficiency at a new level, but also introduces risks. A generative model might give a wrong answer, while agentic AI could act on that wrong answer, potentially causing real harm (e.g. sending a mistaken email or making an unauthorized purchase). With less human oversight, mistakes can have greater consequences, making it critical for organizations to address legal and privacy risks before deploying agentic AI.