🧠 Future AI Advisors Are Systems Thinkers

Kia ora, Namaskaram 🙏🏾

This simple question reveals where AI is heading.

"Dear AI, can I go on vacation?"

The difference in the quality of financial advice is everything.

AI Agents are "prompt or goal-triggered with tool use." They respond to your financial questions like an accountant turned financial advisor.

Agentic AI is a "collaborative workflow orchestrator" that supports you like an empathetic financial advisor.

🔍 Here's the Subtle Difference

Ask an AI Agent: "Can I afford a $2,000 vacation?" 

Response: "Your bank balance is $6,900. You have an active savings goal of $15,000 for a house deposit. Based on your current rules, this vacation exceeds your allowed discretionary spending. You can’t afford it."

Ask Agentic AI: "Can I afford a $2,000 vacation?" 

Response: "I see you're saving for a house and feeling burned out from work. Let's consider how you can support both your mental health and your savings goal. While the house is important, your wellbeing matters too. Here are three things to consider..."

One applies rigid rules. The other adapts to your wider context.

🤖 AI Agents vs Agentic AI

This 2025 Cornell University pre-print paper differentiates AI that executes tasks from AI that orchestrates outcomes.

• AI Agents are Tools with Autonomy BUT Limited Context: Low goal flexibility, isolated context, short-term memory

• Agentic AI are Systems Thinkers with Multi-Agent Collaboration: High goal flexibility, wider context, persistent memory.

How might we design AI advisors that go beyond rules to understand what truly matters — with empathy for human goals, values, and wellbeing?

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