From Assistance to Action: The Rise of Agentic AI

Artificial intelligence has changed the way companies work, and now a new phase is emerging. Whereas earlier systems could only respond to prompts, Agentic AI is designed to handle entire workflows. For companies, the shift is profound, as it promises greater efficiency, faster decision-making and entirely new ways of structuring work. At the same time, it raises important questions around control, accountability and integration into existing business processes. Germany, with its strong industrial base and growing AI ecosystem, is positioning itself as a key player in this transformation. Companies and institutions across the country are exploring how agentic AI can be scaled responsibly and effectively. And there’s lots of room for international companies to enter the market. Our guests: Daniela Rittmeier is a supervisory board member, advisor and head of Capgemini’s Generative AI Accelerator, leading AI integration and scaling across industries and value chains. With over 20 years of experience driving transformation and innovation, she’s a thought leader in sustainable, anthropocentric AI and an advocate for women in technology and digital education. Des Traynor is co‑founder and chief strategy officer of the customer messaging and support platform Intercom, which has expanded to Germany. He has driven Intercom’s shift toward AI‑first product strategy and development, including the creation of AI agents such as Fin.