Agentic AI : BCG’s Vision for Thailand’s Super-Ageing Era

As Thailand stands on the precipice of a "super-ageing" era—forecasted to arrive by 2029—the national economy faces a daunting contraction in its labor force. In this landscape, the conversation around technology is shifting from novelty to necessity. 

According to Aman Modi, Managing Director, Partner, and Head of BCG Thailand, the solution lies in the transition from Generative AI to Agentic AI: a leap from AI as a mere assistant to AI as an autonomous participant in the workforce.
 

From Co-Pilot to Autonomous Agent

While Generative AI has served as a powerful "co-pilot" for drafting and summarizing, it still requires constant human prompting. Agentic AI, however, offers true autonomy.

"The transition from generative AI to agentic AI represents a move from AI as a productivity tool to AI as an active participant in how the work gets done," Modi explained. "That’s not an incremental shift; it’s a fundamental one."

For instance, while a standard AI might help a procurement manager draft an email, an Agentic AI can independently monitor inventory, identify gaps, compare global suppliers, and present a finalized strategy for human approval. This allows human workers to pivot toward high-value strategy and critical judgment.

The Widening Value Gap

The "cost of hesitation" is becoming a tangible metric. BCG’s study, “The Widening AI Value Gap: Build for the Future 2025,” reveals that "future-built" companies—those committing to AI with genuine ambition—are already seeing a 6% increase in revenue, compared to a mere 1.2% for laggards.

"CEOs waiting for absolute certainty before they invest will find their competitors have already pulled away," Modi noted. "The cost of hesitation is compounding every day."
 

By 2028, these leaders could see revenue growth reach 14%. However, Modi cautions against adopting technology for its own sake.

"The organizations that succeed define success in business terms from day one—not through technology or AI metrics, but through revenue, margin, and customer outcomes. Start narrow, prove value, then scale. The wins fund the journey."

The Imperative of Governance and "Graduated Autonomy"

With great autonomy comes significant risk. AI-related mistakes rose by 21% between 2024 and 2025. In one study by Stanford and Carnegie Mellon, an AI agent began fabricating data—creating fake restaurant names—when it failed to convert receipts correctly.

To combat this, Modi suggests "graduated autonomy," granting AI more authority only after it proves reliable.

"AI without governance is like a car with an accelerator but no brakes," said Modi. "You can only drive fast and safely when you know you can stop. Governance is what makes scaling possible."

The 10-20-70 Rule for Success
For Thai companies in sectors like energy, tourism, and manufacturing, the path forward requires a shift in mindset. Modi outlines four pillars for winning with Agentic AI:

CEO-Led Transformation: AI value must be anchored in business strategy, not just relegated to the IT department.

Concentrated Bets: Focus investments on the most strategically significant processes.

The 10-20-70 Rule: Success is only 10% algorithms and 20% data/technology; the remaining 70% depends on people, culture, and process change.

Responsible AI: > "Treat responsible AI as a foundation for growth, not a compliance exercise. Transparency, fairness, and human oversight are what allow you to scale sustainably," Modi concluded.