Everyone's talking about agentic AI, but are we all talking about the same thing?
I've noticed people using "agentic architectures" and "agentic workflows" interchangeably.
But they're actually quite different concepts that work together.
Here's the distinction:
๐๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ณ๐น๐ผ๐๐ = The series of steps an agent takes to achieve a goal
Think of it as the "what" - the actual process
These steps might include:
โข Using LLMs to create a plan
โข Breaking down tasks into subtasks
โข Using tools like internet search
โข Reflecting on outcomes and adjusting the plan
๐๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ = The technical framework and system design
Think of it as the "how" - the underlying structure
These always contain:
โข At least one agent with decision-making capabilities
โข Tools the agent can use
โข Systems for short and long-term memory
Why does this matter?
Because the same workflow can be implemented using different architectures. It's like having multiple ways to build the same recipe - the steps remain similar, but the kitchen setup varies.
For example, an agentic RAG workflow (breaking down queries, retrieving information, evaluating relevance) could be built with a single-agent router architecture or a multi-agent system. Same workflow, different architecture.
Understanding this distinction helps you:
โข Design more flexible systems
โข Choose the right architecture for your specific workflow
โข Communicate more clearly about what you're actually building
What agentic workflows are you most excited about implementing?
Resources:
๐ย Agentic Architectures free Ebook: weaviate.io/ebooks/agentic-aโฆ
๐ย Agentic Workflows blog post: weaviate.io/ebooks/advanced-โฆ
Oct 23, 2025 ยท 9:00 AM UTC










