DSEI UK | August 22, 2025
Agentic AI: Accelerating decision superiority
Agentic AI systems integrate insights in real time for a clear, current view of operations
_____________________________________________________________________________
In defence environments, decision-making is often a race against time. The ability to quickly understand an evolving situation, across multiple domains and sources, can determine the success of a mission. As data volumes increase and threats become more complex, traditional methods of information retrieval no longer suffice. agentic AI offers a promising solution.
Agentic AI involves systems where independent software agents collaborate to collect, filter and deliver mission-critical information. Each agent is responsible for a specialised task, whether it's tracking environmental data, interpreting sensor inputs or monitoring communications. This collaboration creates a shared understanding, enabling faster and more accurate decision-making.
Agentic AI in combat action
In a military context, this model represents a significant advancement in capability. Consider the combat estimate process: commanders must quickly assess factors such as terrain, weather, enemy posture and civilian risks. These inputs often come from fragmented reports and siloed data sources. However, with agentic AI, autonomous agents can continuously monitor various sources including drone feeds, satellite imagery and intelligence reports. Instead of relying on human synthesis, these systems integrate information in real time, providing commanders with a clear and up-to-date operational view. This can speed up decision-making time and improve responses under pressure.
The same principles are applicable in civilian contexts. In emergency response, agents can combine weather forecasts, resource availability and infrastructure updates. In business, they can monitor competitors, access customer sentiment and identify supply chain risks. Across all domains, the key value lies in deriving timely and contextual insights from the raw data.
This shift is driven by advancemnts in machine learning, natural language processing and edge computing. As these technologies mature, agentic AI will play a crucial role in enhancing mission agility, providing scalable and real-time support in dynamic environments.
However, deployment must be approached the necessary security and governance. It is essential to incorporate bias mitigation, data privacy and cyber resilience from the beginning. Ultimately, governance, not just capability, will define success.
Agent-based AI sees the mission through
Defence organisations should start exploring potential use cases now, combining experimentation with structured evaluation. The aim is not to replace human judgement, but to enhance it by providing the right information, in the appropropriate context, at the right moment.
As the pace of operations accelerates, agent-based AI offers a practical solution to ensure decisions remain aligned with mission intent. Those that adopt this technology early, with discipline and vision, will gain a lasting edge.