First of all, think simple.
This is not quantum mechanics or atomic physics in the theoretical layer. It is whether you need an agent or not, keep this that simple.And be aware that the gap between expectation and reality is wide. Those who fail to understand it risk wasting time, money, and credibility. So It is crucial to understand the basics and have a strategy.
The 5 Levels of Agentic AI
The golden rule of AI agents: the simpler, the better. Agentic AI can be defined with 5 levels; 0- is the less autonomous and 5- is the most advanced (level 5 is an advanced level which can be defined as agentic superintelligence which is not clear if it is achievable or not). It is not if you will implement the higher level; besides it is to implement balance between simplicity and autonomous level. For some tasks you require level 2, for some you require level 3. Best is to keep it simple and balanced.
level 1 AI Agent
Think about how we teach a new employee to handle email communications. At first, we might provide detailed, step-by-step instructions: “Open your email client, click ‘New Message,’ enter the recipient’s address, write this specific text…” As they gain experience, our instructions become broader: “Draft a response to this client inquiry, maintaining our usual professional tone.” Eventually, we might simply say, “Handle our client communications and keep them informed about project progress.”
This same progression applies to AI agents:
• At Levels 1 and 2, we need to specify every action: “Click the button ‘new email,’ copy this text, paste it here, enter this address, click send.”
• By Level 3, we can say, “Write and send an email using this information, adapting it to the recipient’s context.”
• At Level 4, we might simply direct, “Handle all client communications to ensure they’re well-informed.”
• And at Level 5—though this level remains theoretical—we could potentially just set a goal like “Grow sales through customer satisfaction” and let the agent determine all necessary actions and communications. ‘Bornet, Pascal, Agentic Artificial Intelligence https://www.linkedin.com/in/pascalbornet/
level 5 AI Agent
Most consider that if they find the best AI they would have achieved anything, this is fundamentally false.
We noticed a common pattern. Business leaders would often dive straight into deployment without truly understanding what these digital teammates could and couldn’t do. It reminded us of trying to work with a new colleague without first learning about their skills, experience, and working style—a recipe for misaligned expectations and missed opportunities.‘Bornet, Pascal, Agentic Artificial Intelligence https://www.linkedin.com/in/pascalbornet/
The Capability Mapping Matters
When integrating a new team member, we don’t simply hand them tasks and hope for the best. We invest time in understanding their capabilities, assessing their strengths and weaknesses, and learning how to work together effectively. Through interviews, discussions, and practical tests, we discover not just what they can do but how they think, how they approach problems, and where they might need support or guidance.This same thoughtful approach is crucial when working with AI agents. While these digital colleagues can process information at incredible speed and scale, they also have their own unique characteristics, limitations, and ways of “thinking.” Understanding these aspects isn’t just about knowing what tasks to delegate—it’s about building effective partnerships that maximize the potential of both human and artificial intelligence. ‘Bornet, Pascal, Agentic Artificial Intelligence https://www.linkedin.com/in/pascalbornet/
I will skip technicals. The key is to approach implementation strategically, learn from early adopters, and maintain a balanced view of how agents can augment and enhance human capabilities rather than replace them. Organizations that follow the patterns of successful implementations—starting with pilots, focusing on clear use cases, and maintaining strong human oversight—are most likely to achieve positive results.
To successfully scale your agentic AI projects beyond initial pilots above is one of the crucial steps. Don’t worry I prepared a workshop for you. That will give you how to decide what to do. Lets generate your first AI agent.
Hakan Kose