The AI Research Center at Alfaisal University hosted a seminar titled “A Practical Tour of Agentic AI Challenges and Opportunities,” on October 15th as part of its ongoing AI Seminar Series, which brings together leading experts to discuss advances and societal impacts of artificial intelligence (AI). The seminar was presented by Dr. Mohamed Abusharkh, Associate Professor of Software Engineering at Ferris State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The session began by introducing the core concept of Agentic AI, which extends beyond traditional reactive models by embedding self-directed capabilities and contextual awareness into AI agents.
Dr. Abusharkh explored emerging use cases of Agentic AI, focusing on how intelligent agents can act autonomously while maintaining alignment with human values. He highlighted key challenges in ensuring the trustworthiness of AI systems, including factuality, human interpretability, robustness, and respect for intellectual property, policies, and regulations.
In the AI Seminar, the speaker highlighted the competitive advantages of Agentic AI for engineering departments within the broader AI landscape. He described how the process begins with adoption and integration, followed by optimization and the development of quality assurance models that incorporate domain-specific expertise. This foundation enables the identification of new use cases and the creation of innovative applications. The speaker also shed light on tools such as Claude and Cursor, which exemplify how Agentic AI can support the rapid development of advanced systems and applications.
A highlight of the seminar was the practical demonstration of research-enabling tools such as ResearchRabbit and SciSpace. These platforms were presented as valuable resources that embody agentic principles in academic workflows. ResearchRabbit assists scholars in discovering and visualizing connections between research papers, while SciSpace integrates advanced citation generation and paraphrasing tools that streamline literature review and writing processes. Through these demonstrations, attendees gained insight into how Agentic AI can augment human intellect by facilitating literature exploration, enhancing scholarly writing, and supporting evidence-based decision-making.
The seminar concluded with a discussion on responsible AI adoption in academia, emphasizing ethical use, transparency, and alignment with human values in the deployment of agentic systems, followed by an engaging question-and-answer session, where faculty and students exchanged ideas with Dr. Abusharkh on the practical implications of Agentic AI. The discussion highlighted the audience’s strong interest in exploring how such technologies can be integrated into research, teaching, and real-world problem-solving, reflecting the growing momentum of AI innovation within the university community.
Alfaisal University’s AI Seminar Series provides a platform for thought leaders from academia, industry, and non-profit sectors to share insights on how AI can drive positive change across healthcare, education, environment, and technology. The initiative reflects the AI Center’s mission to advance responsible AI research and promote applications that contribute to society, the environment, and the economy. For more information about the AI Center’s programs and upcoming events, visit ai.alfaisal.edu
