In this episode of The Intelligent Leader Podcast, Kabir Patel, Global Head of IT at AstraZeneca, breaks down the critical differences between assistive and agentic AI in the context of life sciences. He shares how agentic AI—capable of reasoning, acting, and learning autonomously—is reshaping traditional workflows across pharma, from supply chain resilience to autonomous IT operations. Kabir and host Shashank Garg explore real-world use cases, foundational building blocks, and what it takes for organizations to evolve from assistive tools to intelligent, self-directed systems. Whether you're navigating early AI adoption or exploring enterprise-scale deployment, this episode offers a roadmap packed with insights and strategic learnings.
In this episode of The Intelligent Leader Podcast, host Shashank Garg sits down with Kabir Patel, Global Head of IT at AstraZeneca, to explore the rapidly evolving world of agentic AI. Kabir unpacks what truly sets agentic AI apart from traditional automation, RPA, and generative models—highlighting its ability to reason, act, and learn autonomously. Drawing on years of experience in pharma tech and digital operations, he shares a clear framework for building these systems, from memory and context to reasoning engines and tool integration. With real-world use cases like self-healing supply chains and autonomous service management, Kabir paints a compelling picture of how agentic AI can reshape industries by embedding intelligence directly into workflows.
The conversation also addresses the practical challenges of scaling AI across the enterprise. Shashank and Kabir discuss how organizations should start with assistive AI in low-risk domains like IT and HR before evolving toward more complex, autonomous systems. They explore the growing ecosystem of agentic AI platforms, the strategic decisions enterprises face in choosing between building, buying, or integrating, and the importance of reimagining business processes—not just layering AI on top. Whether you're a tech leader, AI strategist, or simply curious about the future of intelligent systems, this episode offers both a roadmap and a reality check for what's coming next.
Time Stamps:
[00:22] Kabir's Background and Role at AstraZeneca
[02:07] Understanding Agent AI
[06:19] Building Blocks of Agent AI
[08:06] Use Cases in Pharma and Beyond
[15:32] Scaling AI in Enterprises
[24:00] What is the Future of Agentic AI and Beyond?
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