Everyone's talking about agentic AI, but are we all talking about...
Femke Plantinga@femke_plantinga
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Oct 25, 2025
~1 min read
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Everyone's talking about agentic AI, but are we all talking about the same thing?
I've noticed people using "agentic architectures" and "agentic workflows" interchangeably.
But they're actually quite different concepts that work together.
Here's the distinction:
𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 = The series of steps an agent takes to achieve a goal
Think of it as the "what" - the actual process
These steps might include:
• Using LLMs to create a plan
• Breaking down tasks into subtasks
• Using tools like internet search
• Reflecting on outcomes and adjusting the plan
𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 = The technical framework and system design
Think of it as the "how" - the underlying structure
These always contain:
• At least one agent with decision-making capabilities
• Tools the agent can use
• Systems for short and long-term memory
Why does this matter?
Because the same workflow can be implemented using different architectures. It's like having multiple ways to build the same recipe - the steps remain similar, but the kitchen setup varies.
For example, an agentic RAG workflow (breaking down queries, retrieving information, evaluating relevance) could be built with a single-agent router architecture or a multi-agent system. Same workflow, different architecture.
Understanding this distinction helps you:
• Design more flexible systems
• Choose the right architecture for your specific workflow
• Communicate more clearly about what you're actually building
What agentic workflows are you most excited about implementing?
Resources:
📌 Agentic Architectures free Ebook: weaviate.io/ebooks/agentic…
📌 Agentic Workflows blog post: weaviate.io/ebooks/advance…
I've noticed people using "agentic architectures" and "agentic workflows" interchangeably.
But they're actually quite different concepts that work together.
Here's the distinction:
𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 = The series of steps an agent takes to achieve a goal
Think of it as the "what" - the actual process
These steps might include:
• Using LLMs to create a plan
• Breaking down tasks into subtasks
• Using tools like internet search
• Reflecting on outcomes and adjusting the plan
𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 = The technical framework and system design
Think of it as the "how" - the underlying structure
These always contain:
• At least one agent with decision-making capabilities
• Tools the agent can use
• Systems for short and long-term memory
Why does this matter?
Because the same workflow can be implemented using different architectures. It's like having multiple ways to build the same recipe - the steps remain similar, but the kitchen setup varies.
For example, an agentic RAG workflow (breaking down queries, retrieving information, evaluating relevance) could be built with a single-agent router architecture or a multi-agent system. Same workflow, different architecture.
Understanding this distinction helps you:
• Design more flexible systems
• Choose the right architecture for your specific workflow
• Communicate more clearly about what you're actually building
What agentic workflows are you most excited about implementing?
Resources:
📌 Agentic Architectures free Ebook: weaviate.io/ebooks/agentic…
📌 Agentic Workflows blog post: weaviate.io/ebooks/advance…