We have all witnessed the explosion in artificial intelligence technologies, reshaping industries and redefining the way we work. The most well-known example is, of course, Generative AI (GenAI), with the likes of ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini consistently making headlines.

However, a new era of AI is emerging and it's more autonomous than ever. Agentic AI is set to completely transform the way we interact with technology. But when it comes to agentic AI vs generative AI, what are the key differences? And how can they work together to drive innovation in software testing? Here, we explain.

Before we dive into the agentic AI vs generative AI debate, let’s first start what both of these types of AI actually are. GenAI is all about content creation. It uses advanced machine learning models like Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to generate outputs like text, images and video. 

Or, in the case of us here at Virtuoso QA, super intuitive software test scripts and code. It is trained on large data sets to identify patterns and create new content based on human prompts.

So, what exactly is Agentic AI? Well, it's one of the smartest forms of AI created thus far. It has the ability to perform complex tasks, make decisions, and adapt in real time with minimal human input.

It uses AI agents to work together to execute tasks and make independent decisions based on learned datasets, context, and their interactions with their environment. These agents learn and adapt over time, enabling them to ‘think’ for themselves.

Take a chatbot, for example. With Agentic AI, it doesn’t just respond to queries with predefined answers. It understands the context of the conversation and acts on it. 

For instance, if a customer wants to return an order, the chatbot can not only provide a response on how to return the item it can automatically initiate the return process by retrieving order details and creating a return request in real time.

Agentic AI vs Generative AI - The Key Differences

Agentic AI marks a paradigm shift and is now AI’s third wave. Unlike Generative AI, which creates content based on prompts, Agentic AI is autonomous. Where Generative AI is reactive, Agentic AI is proactive and can solve complex problems independently.

Here is a table to break it down:

Generative AI vs Agentic AI in Software Testing 

Now that you understand the basics of Generative AI vs. Agentic AI, what does this mean for the world of software testing and development? Here at Virtuoso QA, we are already using GenAI to revolutionize software testing and are closer than ever to implementing Agentic AI into our software testing platform. 

Through our GenAI platform, you can create super realistic test scenarios with zero effort and execute tests at an unprecedented scale - all while using low code/no code testing with plain English prompts. But with Agentic AI, this is just the beginning.

It is inevitable that both Agentic and GenAI will become an increasingly integral part of our daily lives, particularly within the software testing space. Therefore, understanding these technologies and how they differ, and can work together will only become more important.

AI can be complex, and as an AI-powered testing platform, we understand this well. But its benefits are undeniable. As these technologies evolve, they promise to reshape how we create, innovate, and operate in the world of testing and beyond. 

The question isn’t really about Agentic AI vs Generative AI, but how we can use both to drive innovation and make our lives easier and more efficient in the process. And with Open AI set to launch their own Agentic AI agent in January, and Google unveiling its Agentic Gemini 2.0 it looks like we won’t have to wait long to see these two AI technologies together in action. 

At Virtuoso QA, we have harnessed the power of AI to revolutionize software testing, combining Machine Learning and Robotic Process Automation into an intuitive Generative AI software testing tool. What does this mean in real terms? Faster, smarter, and more accessible testing for all.  

So, if you are looking to transform your software testing and turbocharge your development cycle with AI powered automation then book a demo now.