Introduction
Public sector organizations around the world are discovering the power of AI and have already adopted generative AI tools to improve public servants’ productivity, helping them draft documents, summarize reports, and answer routine questions faster than before. But the next chapter of AI in public sector goes further.
Agentic AI refers to AI systems that can reason, plan, and act across complex, multi-step workflows on behalf of public sector teams. Instead of waiting for a prompt and producing a response, agents pursue goals autonomously by connecting to data sources, executing tasks, and coordinating across systems, all while keeping people firmly in control.
This module helps public sector employees understand what agentic AI is, where it’s already making a difference, how to build agents using Microsoft tools, and how to secure AI systems in environments where trust and accountability are essential.
Learning objectives
Upon completion of this module, you'll be able to:
- Describe the evolution from generative AI to agentic AI in public sector organizations
- Define agentic AI and identify key capabilities that distinguish agents from traditional AI tools
- Identify real-world applications of agentic AI across public sector scenarios
- Compare Microsoft platforms for building agents based on organizational needs and technical complexity
- Apply a four-step security framework to govern AI adoption in a public sector organization