Agentic AI and AI Agents: A Primer for Leaders from Coursera

Forget everything you know about traditional AI. Agentic AI doesn’t just analyze data; it acts on it. From drafting sales emails to updating CRMs, it’s not just a tool—it’s a game-changer. Are you ready to harness its power?

Agentic AI combines Generative AI with tools and actions, enabling the creation of "agents" that revolutionize how work is done. Unlike tools that simply generate static outputs, these agents take action—drafting emails directly in your inbox, updating a CRM with client meeting notes, or analyzing sales data and producing a PowerPoint presentation.

In the fast-paced world of AI-enhanced work, understanding Agentic AI isn’t optional—it’s your competitive advantage. These intelligent agents are reshaping how tasks are executed, decisions are made, and value is created across industries. By automating repetitive workflows and enhancing high-value tasks, they empower teams to focus on innovation and strategy. Agentic AI is transforming industries, and this course will ensure you’re leading the charge, not playing catch-up. Understanding their capabilities and limitations is essential for staying competitive in this rapidly evolving landscape.

This course demystifies Agentic AI, teaching you how these agents work and how to design them to suit your needs. By the end, you’ll not only know how to differentiate genuine AI innovation from overhyped gimmicks but also be equipped to build tools that deliver tangible value. Whether you’re in business, technology, or leadership, this course will help you stay ahead of the curve.

What's inside

Syllabus

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores Agentic AI, which is poised to transform industries by automating repetitive workflows and enhancing high-value tasks, empowering teams to focus on innovation and strategy

Teaches how to differentiate genuine AI innovation from overhyped gimmicks, equipping learners to build tools that deliver tangible value in their respective fields

Focuses on understanding the capabilities and limitations of Agentic AI, which is essential for staying competitive in the rapidly evolving technological landscape

Examines custom GPTs, which are a recent innovation that allows users to create tailored AI agents for specific tasks and applications

Reviews summary

Agentic ai primer for leaders

According to learners, this course serves as a solid introduction to Agentic AI and AI Agents, specifically designed for leaders and professionals seeking a strategic overview. Many found it successful in explaining complex concepts clearly and simply, helping them differentiate genuine AI innovation from mere hype. While praised for its high-level relevance to business strategy, some reviewers indicated that the level of technical depth is limited, making it best suited as a foundational primer rather than a hands-on guide for building agents. Overall, it appears to provide a valuable framework for understanding and evaluating AI agent capabilities from a leadership perspective.

Targeted at business and leadership roles.

"This course is clearly designed for non-technical leaders."

"Great if you need a strategic overview, less so if you're a developer."

"Perfect starting point for managers exploring AI possibilities."

Helps identify real value.

"Learned how to spot gimmicks vs. genuine innovation."

"Useful framework for evaluating AI agent solutions."

"It equipped me to ask the right questions."

Concepts explained simply.

"The course demystified agentic AI without getting lost in jargon."

"I appreciated the clear overview of how these agents work."

"It made a complex topic approachable."

Helps leaders understand impact.

"It really helped me see how agents can transform workflows."

"Gave me the context needed to discuss AI agent strategy with my team."

"Understanding the 'why' behind agentic AI was crucial for my role."

May not satisfy technical users.

"As someone technical, I found it lacked depth on implementation details."

"It's definitely a primer, not a deep dive."

"Could use more advanced examples."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Agentic AI and AI Agents: A Primer for Leaders with these activities:

Review Generative AI Fundamentals

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Solidify your understanding of Generative AI concepts, which form the foundation for Agentic AI.

Browse courses on Generative AI

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Review notes from previous AI courses or online resources.
Complete a short online quiz on Generative AI concepts.

Follow Tutorials on Custom GPT Creation

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Gain hands-on experience with creating Custom GPTs, a key component of Agentic AI systems.

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Search for online tutorials on building Custom GPTs.
Follow a tutorial to create a simple Custom GPT for a specific task.
Experiment with different settings and parameters to optimize performance.

Read 'AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future'

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Explore potential future applications of AI to inspire innovative thinking about Agentic AI.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Read the book, focusing on chapters relevant to business applications.
Reflect on how the scenarios presented could be implemented using Agentic AI.

Four other activities

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Design a Simple Agentic AI Workflow

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Apply the concepts learned in the course by designing a practical Agentic AI workflow for a specific business problem.

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Identify a repetitive task in your current role or organization.
Outline the steps involved in automating that task using an AI agent.
Document the tools and actions the agent would need to perform.

Read 'Working With AI'

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Understand how Agentic AI can be integrated into existing workflows to augment human capabilities.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Read the book, focusing on the chapters about AI augmentation and collaboration.
Identify opportunities to apply the principles discussed in your own work environment.

Create a Presentation on Agentic AI for Your Team

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Reinforce your understanding by explaining Agentic AI concepts to others.

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Summarize the key concepts of Agentic AI from the course.
Prepare a presentation explaining the benefits and potential applications of Agentic AI.
Present your findings to your team or colleagues.

Develop a Prototype Agentic AI Application

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Solidify your understanding by building a functional prototype of an Agentic AI application.

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Choose a specific use case for your Agentic AI application.
Design the architecture of the application, including the AI agent, tools, and actions.
Implement the prototype using appropriate programming languages and tools.
Test and refine the prototype based on user feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Agentic AI and AI Agents: A Primer for Leaders will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Digital Transformation Specialist

A Digital Transformation Specialist supports organizations in adopting new technologies to improve business processes and customer experience. Agentic AI is a major area of focus for this role. This course teaches how these intelligent agents are transforming work and how to design them effectively. By learning to differentiate between genuine innovation and marketing hype, a digital transformation specialist can confidently guide organizations toward effective solutions. The skills taught in the course are highly relevant for those who wish to take a leadership role in digital transformation projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Transformation Specialist

Workflow Automation Engineer

A Workflow Automation Engineer designs, develops, and implements automated workflows, often using agentic AI. The Engineer needs a deep understanding of how these intelligent agents can streamline business processes. This course directly addresses how these agents operate and how to design them for specific tasks, such as drafting emails and updating CRMs. Learning how to build tools that provide genuine value is essential for the role. Individuals who are looking to implement advanced automation using AI will find this course incredibly useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Workflow Automation Engineer

Automation Specialist

An Automation Specialist focuses on identifying and implementing automation solutions, frequently involving advanced technologies. This role utilizes Agentic AI to automate workflows and improve efficiency. This course helps automation specialists learn how these agents work and how to create them for specific tasks, such as updating CRM systems and drafting emails. The emphasis on designing tools that deliver real value is crucial for maximizing the impact of automation efforts. This course is very useful for those wishing to develop and implement cutting-edge automation solutions based on AI.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automation Specialist

AI Solutions Architect

An AI Solutions Architect designs and implements AI-driven solutions, and this role includes a focus on Agentic AI systems. This role requires a deep understanding of the technology’s capabilities and limitations. By taking this course, an architect will understand how agentic AI functions and how to design solutions that meet business requirements. The focus on creating value is crucial for an AI solutions architect who needs to deliver effective and efficient solutions. Those aiming for a leadership role in advanced AI projects will find this course to be highly beneficial.

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Technology Strategist

A Technology Strategist develops and implements technology roadmaps that align with business objectives, which involves assessing the impact of emerging technologies like Agentic AI. This role requires understanding how these technologies can be used to drive growth, improve efficiency, or gain a competitive edge. This course teaches how to differentiate genuine AI innovation from overhyped trends, which is essential for making sound strategic decisions. The course's emphasis on designing appropriate AI-driven solutions will allow a technology strategist to implement effective technology solutions. Those interested in a technology strategist career path will find this course especially useful due to its focus on the practical application of advanced AI.

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Chief Technology Officer

A Chief Technology Officer, or CTO, sets the technology vision and strategy for an organization, and they must be able to evaluate and implement new technologies. Agentic AI is a key area that a CTO should understand since it represents the future of business computing. The CTO can better understand the potential of Agentic AI and make decisions about its use in the organization by taking this course. The course helps a CTO develop the capacity to differentiate real innovation from hyperbole, a critical skill for strategic decision making. Gaining knowledge from this course will benefit any CTO navigating this new technological landscape.

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Product Manager

A Product Manager is responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and execution of a product, often incorporating new technologies like Agentic AI to enhance product capabilities and user experience. This role requires a deep understanding of the technology’s potential, how it works, and how it can deliver value to users. This course helps product managers understand how to design Agentic AI solutions to meet user needs and requirements. The course's emphasis on moving beyond static outputs to intelligent agents helps product managers to innovate effectively. This course will be particularly helpful for individuals who need to develop products that employ the latest AI techniques.

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Innovation Manager

An Innovation Manager is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and implementing new technologies and processes to improve organizational efficiency and create a competitive advantage. This role involves staying abreast of emerging trends, such as Agentic AI, and understanding how they can be leveraged to drive innovation. This course helps build a foundation for understanding the mechanics of Agentic AI, enabling the innovation manager to effectively assess and integrate this technology within their organization. A key focus of this role is to distinguish between real innovation and over-hyped technology, which this course addresses directly. This course is beneficial for those pursuing this role because it provides the ability to create tools that deliver real value, essential for driving innovation and staying competitive.

See salaries and explore the career path for Innovation Manager

Operations Manager

An Operations Manager oversees the efficiency of business processes, often implementing new technologies to automate tasks and improve productivity. This role frequently uses tools like Agentic AI to streamline workflows. This course helps operations managers learn how these agents work and how to design them to meet operational needs. By understanding how to build tools that deliver tangible value, operations managers can create systems that increase efficiency and reduce bottlenecks. This course provides crucial insights for those looking to implement AI-driven operational improvements.

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Technology Consultant

A Technology Consultant advises clients on the implementation of new technologies and strategies, frequently involving advanced AI solutions. This role requires a solid understanding of Agentic AI and how it can be used to address client needs. This course introduces the mechanics behind Agentic AI and how to build tools that produce tangible value. Those in a technology consulting career path, particularly those who work with AI, will find this course helpful in learning to develop solutions based on the most modern technology.

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Management Consultant

A Management Consultant advises organizations on how to improve their performance and efficiency, which often involves leveraging new technologies like Agentic AI. The consultant must understand how to implement these solutions. This course helps build a foundation for understanding how Agentic AI can drive change and how to design solutions to meet organizational needs. The ability to differentiate real innovation from mere hype is a critical skill, and this course develops that skill. A management consultant will find that this course's focus on creating value is key to driving positive outcomes for clients.

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Business Development Manager

A Business Development Manager focuses on identifying and pursuing growth opportunities, often by leveraging new technologies. This role requires a strong understanding of how technology like Agentic AI can create value for clients and improve business operations. This course helps one understand the capabilities and limitations of Agentic AI, enabling the business development manager to effectively communicate its benefits to clients. The course also covers how to build tools that deliver value, which is crucial for developing compelling solutions. A Business Development Manager would benefit from enrollment in this course because they would learn how to differentiate valid tech solutions from marketing hype in this competitive landscape and use their findings to create innovative solutions.

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Project Manager

A Project Manager oversees the planning, execution, and delivery of projects, which increasingly involve the use of AI-related technologies. This role requires the ability to understand how these technologies can be integrated into existing systems and workflows. This course helps project managers understand the capabilities and limitations of Agentic AI, enabling them to effectively manage projects involving these tools. The course focuses on learning how to design these agents to suit particular needs, which is essential for ensuring project success. This course is critical for individuals who must manage and integrate these advanced technologies.

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Data Analyst

A Data Analyst examines data to draw conclusions, often leveraging automation and AI to analyze complex datasets. Agentic AI is used to generate insights and automate tasks like report creation. This course introduces data analysts to the capabilities of Agentic AI and how to design solutions that meet specific analytical needs. A focus of the course is learning how to move beyond static outputs, which is a key skill for those seeking to employ advanced AI techniques like predictive analytics. This course provides an advantage to those who need to understand and implement AI in data analysis.

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Research Scientist

A Research Scientist explores new technologies and methodologies to advance scientific knowledge, often focusing on advanced AI applications. These roles often require a doctoral degree. This course helps the research scientist understand the foundational principles of Agentic AI and how to build tools that deliver tangible value. This is vital for anyone seeking to develop new AI solutions and is vital for research in this area. Such a course is very helpful for those wanting to advance their work in AI-centered research.

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Agentic AI and AI Agents

A Primer for Leaders

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