Generative AI creates. You ask, it produces — text, images, code, audio. ChatGPT writing an email is generative AI.
Agentic AI acts. It can plan, use tools, browse the web, run code, and complete multi-step tasks on your behalf. Tell an agent "research three competitors and email me a summary," and it will actually do it: open a browser, take notes, draft the email, send it.
The cleanest way to think about it: generative AI gives you a draft. Agentic AI gives you an outcome. Most modern products are blending the two — and "agentic" is where the real productivity gains of the next few years will come from.