What is Agentic RAG?
Agentic RAG combines the retrieval capabilities of RAG with the autonomous decision-making of AI agents. The result: AI that can intelligently decide what information to retrieve and how to use it.
How It Differs from Standard RAG
Standard RAG
Simple query → retrieve → generate flow.
Agentic RAG
Query → reason about what's needed → retrieve strategically → evaluate results → retrieve more if needed → generate comprehensive response.
Key Capabilities
- Query Decomposition: Break complex questions into sub-queries
- Multi-hop Retrieval: Follow chains of information
- Self-Reflection: Evaluate if retrieval was sufficient
- Tool Use: Access multiple knowledge sources
Use Cases
- Complex research questions
- Multi-document synthesis
- Competitive intelligence
- Legal research
Implementation
Start with a solid RAG foundation, then add agent capabilities for query planning and result evaluation.