Uncovering the Generative AI (GenAI) to Agentic AI (AgAI) Shift for Business School Education

This article conceptually examines the transformative potential of Agentic AI (AgAI) in redefining business education by addressing the limitations of Generative AI (GenAI) in fostering learner agency and higher-order skills. While GenAI excels at reactive tasks, its static, prompt-driven design struggles to cultivate autonomy, critical reflection, and adaptive decision-making, while challenging individual's linguistic abilities. In contrast, AgAI (characterised by autonomy, contextual adaptability, and proactive engagement) positions AI as a collaborative partner. Grounded in proxy agency, self-determination theory, and constructivist learning theory, AgAI empowers students to iteratively pursue goals, navigate dynamic scenarios, and reflect on learning strategies while retaining control over their educational paths. The article proposes an enhanced human-AI collaboration model where AgAI augments learning through intelligent tutoring systems, multi-agent simulations, and personalized content curation, bridging gaps in experiential learning, scalability, and ethical reasoning.