Agentic AI Is Not the Future – It’s Now: Key Takeaways from the Webinar
Jay Cuthrell
Chief Product Officer
The AI landscape is evolving at lightning speed. While many businesses are still adapting to generative AI (GenAI), agentic AI is already here, reshaping how organizations operate. If you missed our recent webinar, “Agentic AI Is Not the Future – It’s Now,” we explored how the next evolution of AI is driving transformation—especially for small and mid-sized companies looking to compete at an enterprise level without the enterprise budget.
In this recap, I’ll share key takeaways and insights from my conversation with Chris Marks, Strategic Initiatives Senior Director at Pax8.
What is Agentic AI?
Agentic AI moves beyond traditional automation by making decisions and taking action. While generative AI produces text, images, or code, agentic AI executes tasks based on goals, adapting as it learns. It’s AI that not only suggests what to do but actually does it—freeing up teams to focus on high-value work.
“AI is like putting on the Iron Man suit. The suit doesn’t replace somebody. It makes them exponentially more capable. And that’s how we’re viewing it—amplification, not replacement.”
-Chris Marks
Why SMBs Should Pay Attention
For years, enterprises have had the upper hand in adopting cutting-edge technology. AI is flipping the script, giving SMBs access to powerful automation, intelligence, and efficiency tools that were once out of reach. Instead of waiting for enterprise adoption to trickle down, SMBs can leverage AI to:
- Reduce manual work and optimize operations
- Improve customer interactions with intelligent automation
- Enhance decision-making with real-time data insights
- Scale at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional enterprise models
This is an opportunity for smaller businesses to compete on a level playing field—and even outmaneuver larger competitors with agility and AI-driven efficiencies.
How SMBs Are Already Using Agentic AI
Our discussion highlighted three key real-world applications where AI is making a tangible impact:
1. AI-powered sales and customer engagement
AI is reshaping how sales teams work, handling research, preparing insights, and even automating outreach. With AI augmenting sales strategies, businesses can shorten sales cycles, personalize customer interactions, and increase conversions without adding headcount.
2. Automating business operations
From IT service management to cybersecurity, agentic AI is proactively resolving issues, automating workflows, and eliminating bottlenecks—allowing teams to focus on strategic initiatives.
3. Smarter decision-making with AI-driven insights
Businesses that harness AI-powered analytics gain a competitive advantage by making faster, data-backed decisions. AI can optimize inventory, forecast demand, and even anticipate customer needs before they arise.
“What’s the first one-person company to achieve a billion-dollar run rate? That’s going to happen probably in our effective lifetimes.”
-Chris Marks
Navigating AI Adoption: Challenges and Solutions
While AI adoption is accelerating, businesses must navigate key considerations:
- Security and compliance – AI should be deployed with cybersecurity best practices in place, ensuring sensitive data is protected.
- Cost and scalability – SMBs should focus on AI solutions that provide measurable ROI, starting with high-impact areas before expanding.
- AI readiness and training – Successful adoption requires a cultural shift. Businesses should educate teams on AI’s capabilities and ensure they are comfortable leveraging it in daily workflows.
The key takeaway? The biggest risk isn’t AI itself—it’s ignoring it while competitors embrace it.
Looking Ahead: AI as the Great Equalizer
AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s a practical tool that SMBs can use today to punch above their weight class. The ability to integrate AI strategically will define which businesses thrive in the years ahead.
About the Author
Jay Cuthrell
Chief Product Officer, NexusTek
Jay Cuthrell is a seasoned technology executive with extensive experience in driving innovation in IT, hybrid cloud, and multicloud solutions. As Chief Product Officer at NexusTek, he leads efforts in product strategy and marketing, building on a career that includes key leadership roles at IBM, Dell Technologies, and Faction, where he advanced AI/ML, platform engineering, and enterprise data services.
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