Agentic AI: Five Myths & Why Business Leaders Need To Embrace It

A LEADING tech expert has urged business leaders to embrace Agentic AI – and outlined the biggest myths which surround the technology.
Defined as AI that can set goals, plan tasks, and execute complex actions autonomously, Agentic AI technology is moving far beyond simple automation.
It’s already reshaping the way businesses operate and, unlike systems that require constant prompting, Agentic AI adapts in real-time, and drives meaningful outcomes.
Commenting on its growing importance James Disney May, a business expert, said: “Enterprise leaders are no longer exploring; they’re executing. It’s believed that up to 90% of IT leaders say they have processes that could benefit from agentic AI, with nearly half planning to invest in 2025. With adoption expected to expand dramatically, Agentic AI is projected to power one-third of enterprise applications by 2028. This isn’t speculative. It’s operational.”
Yet, despite this, myths still persist.
These misconceptions are often what hold businesses back, as James points out.
Here, business expert James breaks down the five most common myths and explains why leaders should act now.

Myth 1: Agentic AI Is Just the Latest Buzzword
Not just hype, this is a structural shift in capability.
“Agentic AI isn’t a rebrand. It’s a reframe. These systems don’t wait for instructions; they act. Picture an AI agent in logistics rerouting shipments, notifying customers, and issuing refunds, entirely autonomously. These are systems that plan, adapt, and execute tasks end-to-end, often improving performance with every cycle. If your AI still waits for a prompt, you’re missing the point,” he says. “Agentic AI acts with intent.”
Myth 2: Agentic AI Is Too Risky to Trust
Governance and control are built in from the start.
“Fears of rogue AI are rooted more in fiction than fact. In practice, Agentic AI operates within clear boundaries, often with embedded safeguards like human-in-the-loop checks and real-time audit trails. Autonomy doesn’t mean anarchy. These systems operate like your best-trained team, just faster and at scale”. And the interest is high: 93% of IT leaders say they’re keen to explore Agentic AI.”
Myth 3: Agentic AI Is Only for Technical Use Cases
Its most powerful use cases often lie outside IT.
“Agentic AI is no longer confined to development teams or data labs. Its most valuable applications are emerging across marketing, HR, compliance, and customer service. Areas where agents streamline workflows, surface insights, and reduce bottlenecks. Unilever, for instance, uses AI to streamline recruitment and training, automating candidate screening, digital interviews, and onboarding workflows across thousands of employees. Agentic AI is crossing into boardrooms, not just back-end systems. It’s becoming the connective tissue across the organisation.”
Myth 4: Agentic AI Will Replace Entire Teams
It’s about augmentation, not replacement.
“The fear that Agentic AI will take jobs is one of the biggest blockers to adoption, but it’s also one of the most outdated. These systems are designed to support, not sideline. They pick up the repeatable, admin-heavy processes so people can focus on work that really moves the needle. In fact, 72% of IT leaders say AI has improved productivity, and 69% report fewer errors. One UK firm cut admin time by 43% after deploying internal agents for invoicing and compliance tracking. Think of it as a digital colleague. Not a replacement, but a multiplier.”
Myth 5: Agentic AI Is Only for Tech Giants
SMEs are already adopting these tools.
“Thanks to no-code platforms and open-source tools, agentic systems are now accessible. In fact, over half of global organisations are scaling their use in 2025, including many outside the tech elite. The projected market for Agentic AI is expected to reach over $47 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual rate of 44.8%. This shift is already underway. You don’t need a data lab. Just the will to pilot. The myths around Agentic AI will persist unless leaders get hands-on. You don’t have to automate everything overnight. But if you’re not piloting today, you’ll be catching up tomorrow.”
It’s no longer a question of if Agentic AI will shape your sector but how ready you are to lead the change.