Agentic Search
Agentic Search refers to search and answer engines powered by AI agents that actively research topics by performing multiple searches, visiting pages, and synthesizing information autonomously.
Definition
Instead of doing one retrieval pass and generating an answer, agentic search systems engage in iterative research. An agent might search for initial answers, identify gaps, perform follow-up searches, visit pages to extract details, and synthesize a comprehensive answer. This multi-step research produces more thorough and accurate results.
Agentic search is moving beyond simple RAG pipelines toward systems that reason about what information is missing and actively seek it out. Search engines like Perplexity and others now use agentic approaches, conducting internal research before presenting synthesized answers to users.
Why it matters for AI visibility
Agentic search engines don't settle for a single citation; they actively research and compare sources. Your brand benefits from comprehensive, defensible claims and transparent sourcing. Agents will investigate contradictions and scrutinize sources, meaning accuracy and verifiability are now prerequisites for citations.
Related terms
AI Agents
AI Agents are autonomous systems that use LLMs to perceive their environment, make decisions, and take actions to accomplish goals. They can use tools, run code, and execute multi-step workflows without human intervention.
AIAgentic Workflows
Agentic Workflows are automated processes orchestrated by AI agents that execute multi-step tasks, make decisions between steps, and adapt to outcomes. They combine language understanding with action execution.
AIDeep Research
Deep Research is the process of AI systems conducting thorough, multi-step investigation into topics by performing multiple searches, comparing sources, and synthesizing comprehensive findings.
AIRetrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
RAG is the technique of retrieving relevant documents at answer time, then using them to ground an LLM's response. It enables AI search engines to cite sources while generating answers.