A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PREDICTIVE AI AND AGENTIC AI: EXAMINING KEY DIFFERENCES IN AUTONOMY, GOAL ORIENTATION, HUMAN INTERACTION, AND SYSTEM ACCOUNTABILITY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/JISSI.v2.i1.2026.45Keywords:
Predictive AI, Agentic AI, Autonomy, Goal Orientation, Human Interaction, System Accountability, Artificial Intelligence, Comparative AnalysisAbstract
This study conducts a comprehensive comparison between predictive AI and agentic AI, focusing on critical dimensions such as autonomy, goal orientation, human interaction, and system accountability. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research analyzes datasets from industry reports, scholarly literature, and hypothetical case studies to highlight distinctions. Key findings reveal that predictive AI excels in data-driven forecasting with limited autonomy, relying heavily on human oversight for decision-making, while agentic AI demonstrates higher independence in pursuing complex goals, adapting dynamically to environments. The analysis underscores agentic AI's potential for enhanced efficiency but raises concerns over accountability and ethical risks. Conclusions emphasize the need for balanced integration of both paradigms to optimize AI applications in sectors like healthcare and cybersecurity, contributing to theoretical advancements and practical guidelines for AI deployment. This work bridges gaps in understanding evolving AI typologies, offering insights for policymakers and practitioners.
References
Acceldata. (2025). Agentic AI: Definition, Tools, and Comparison with Generative AI.
Amazon Web Services. (2025). What Is Agentic AI?
Arora, P., and Bhardwaj, S. (2022). An Analysis of Artificial Intelligence Methods for Network Intrusion Detection and Prevention to Improve User Privacy. International Journal of Innovative Research in Computer and Communication Engineering, 10(11).
Arora, P., and Bhardwaj, S. (2022). Integrating Wireless Sensor Networks and the Internet of Things: A Hierarchical and Security-Based Analysis. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research in Science, Engineering and Technology (IJMRSET), 5(5).
Bhardwaj, S., Dwivedi, A., Pandey, A., Perwej, Y., and Khan, P. R. (2023). Machine Learning-Based Crowd Behavior Analysis and Forecasting. International Journal of Scientific Research in Computer Science, Engineering and Information Technology (IJSRCSEIT).
Capgemini. (2025). Rise of Agentic AI.
Frontiers. (2025). Human-Artificial Interaction in the Age of Agentic AI.
Gupta, P. (2025). AI Evolution: Predictive AI, Generative AI, and Agentic AI.
IBM. (2025). Agentic AI vs. Generative AI.
Kim, S. (2023). The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Healthcare: Predictive Models and Beyond. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 174, Article 104945. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2023.104945
Lee, K., et al. (2025). A Review of Agentic AI in Cybersecurity: Cognitive Autonomy and Adaptive Threats. Journal of Cybersecurity, 11(3), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.1093/cybsec/tyab012
Marr, B. (2023). Generative, Predictive, Prescriptive AI: What They Mean for Business.
NVIDIA. (2024). What Is Agentic AI?
Roberts, D. (2022). AI-Powered Marketing: Predictive Consumer Behavior Analysis. Journal of Business Research, 145, 456–467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.02.045
Salesforce. (2025). What Are AI Models for Startups? Predictive, Generative, Agentic.
Sharma, S. (2018). Optimized Cooling Solutions for Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powertrains. International Journal of Science, Management and Innovative Research (IJSMIR), 2(1), 1–5.
Sharma, S. (2018). Post-Quantum Cryptography: Readying Security for the Quantum Computing Revolution. International Journal of Science, Management and Innovative Research (IJSMIR), 2(1), 1–5.
Sharma, S. (2019). Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Strategies in Cloud-Hosted Applications. Journal of Theoretical and Computational Advances in Scientific Research (JTCASR), 3(1), 1–8.
Smith, J., and Johnson, A. (2024). AI Agents and Agentic AI: Navigating a Plethora of Concepts for Enhanced Autonomy. Computers in Human Behavior, 152, Article 108045. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2024.108045
Tambi, V. K. (2020). Generative AI Applications in Customizing User Experiences in Banking Apps. The Research Journal (TRJ), 6(6), 1–15.
Tambi, V. K. (2021). Multi-Cloud Data Synchronization Using Kafka Stream Processing. The Research Journal (TRJ): A Unit of I2OR, 12(6), 5–12.
Tambi, V. K. (2021). Natural Language Understanding Models for Personalized Financial Services. International Journal of Current Engineering and Scientific Research, 8(1), 1–11.
Tambi, V. K., and Singh, N. (2019). Blockchain Technology and Cybersecurity Utilisation in New Smart City Applications. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research in Science, Engineering and Technology (IJMRSET), 2(6).
Tambi, V. K., and Singh, N. (2019). Development of a Project Risk Management System Based on Industry 4.0 Technology and Its Practical Implications. International Journal of Innovative Research in Computer and Communication Engineering, 7(11).
Thomson Reuters. (2025). Agentic AI vs. Generative AI: The Core Differences.
Tredence. (2025). The Next Evolution of Predictive Analytics with Agentic AI.
WorkOS. (2025). Difference Between Causal, Predictive, Generative, and Agentic AI.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Nagaraju Devulapalli (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
With the licence CC-BY, authors retain the copyright, allowing anyone to download, reuse, re-print, modify, distribute, and/or copy their contribution. The work must be properly attributed to its author.
It is not necessary to ask for further permission from the author or journal board.
This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.



















