Building an agentic AI strategy that pays off - without risking business failure

Written by David Gewirtz, Senior Contributing EditorSenior Contributing Editor May 4, 2026 at 7:10 a.m. PT Tharon Green/ZDNET/Getty ImagesFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Imagine you're a chief executive. Your AI strategy task force has just presented you with two strategic options. The first one is safe. You can use agentic AI to reduce overhead and save 10% of overall human capital costs. The second choice is daring. You can increase growth tenfold by using agentic AI to transform your company's operations. The first choice will barely move the needle, but will help the AI initiative pay for itself. The second choice could blow the doors off your numbers and make you a legend in your board's eyes. It could also get you fired. Know that the superlatives are off the charts. KPMG estimates that agentic AI will unlock $3 trillion in annual productivity gains. Accenture makes the case that agentic AI is "no less than a new type of capital," and "marks a shift in economic history." Last fall, Gartner said, "organizations have a crucial three- to six-month window to define their agentic AI product strategy, as the industry is at an inflection point." Gartner may advise that you need to take action right now. Accenture advises you to go for 10x growth wins rather than 10% cost-savings wins. My advice is to be chill. While there is undoubtedly a ton of upside to agentic AI initiatives, jumping in without a solid strategy