Why Generative AI Solutions Prefer Agentic RAG Over Big AI Players
Sankara Reddy Thamma
AI/ML Data Engg | Gen-AI | Cloud Migration - Strategy & Analytics @ Deloitte
Generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, OpenAI, Gemini, Anthropic and DeepSeek are powerful, but businesses are increasingly adopting Agentic RAG solutions. Why? Because Agentic RAG offers better control, customization, and reliability for business-specific needs. It empowers organizations to manage their own data securely while enhancing adaptability and cost efficiency. Let's explore its pros and cons with relatable examples.
Pros of Using Agentic RAG
1. More Control Over Data
Example: Imagine you're a healthcare provider managing patient data. Sending sensitive information to a public AI model might raise privacy concerns. With an Agentic RAG, your data stays within your secure environment, giving you full control and peace of mind.
2. Custom-Tailored Results
Example: Suppose you run a financial advisory firm. A public AI model might give generic investment advice. An Agentic RAG, however, can pull insights from your internal financial reports, offering highly customized suggestions tailored to your clients.
3. Better Adaptability
Example: Let's say your company updates its product catalog every month. An Agentic RAG can automatically pull the latest product details, ensuring customer queries are answered with the most up-to-date information. Public models, on the other hand, may rely on outdated data.
4. Cost Efficiency in the Long Run
Example: Imagine you're an e-commerce business with thousands of daily customer queries. Relying on public AI APIs for each request could become expensive. An Agentic RAG solution that efficiently leverages your internal data can significantly reduce these costs.
5. Avoiding Dependency on External Providers
Example: If your business depends entirely on a public AI platform and it experiences an outage or pricing change, you're stuck. An Agentic RAG gives you more independence by allowing you to build and manage your own AI system.
6. Enhanced Error Recovery
Example: Suppose you ask an AI model about market trends, but the response seems incorrect. An Agentic RAG can attempt different search strategies, verify sources, or even ask you clarifying questions to improve its accuracy — something public models rarely do.
Cons of Using Agentic RAG
1. Increased Complexity
Example: If you only need quick answers like "What's 2+2?" or "What's the capital of France?", an Agentic RAG may over-complicate things with extra steps that aren't necessary.
2. Higher Resource Usage
Example: An Agentic RAG system that constantly retrieves and processes data may consume more server resources than simpler public models, potentially driving up infrastructure costs.
3. Potential for Overfitting
Example: Imagine you're a travel company asking your AI system to recommend vacation spots. If an Agentic RAG learns only from your previous preferences, it may miss out on new, trending destinations you haven’t explored yet.
4. Slower Response Time
Example: Since an Agentic RAG actively retrieves and verifies data, it may take longer to respond compared to public models that provide instant answers based on pre-trained information.
Conclusion
Big AI players are powerful, but Agentic RAG solutions offer greater control, personalization, and adaptability. By blending smart data retrieval with intelligent responses, businesses can create AI systems that are more secure, cost-effective, and tailored to their specific needs.
In short, Agentic RAG is like having a personalized GPS that’s tuned to your exact route — not just the main highways everyone else is using.