Agentic AI's Promise and Peril: Enterprises Navigate Innovation and Legal Storms

The rise of agentic artificial intelligence is poised to transform the global workforce in ways enterprises may struggle to contain, according to decades-long AI experts. As companies race to deploy autonomous systems capable of independent decision-making, the technology's disruptive potential is already evident in both groundbreaking innovations and high-profile corporate crises.

Zeta Global, for instance, unveiled Athena by Zeta™, a conversational, superintelligent agent designed to revolutionize marketing and productivity workflows. Built on the company's Zeta Marketing Platform, Athena combines advanced analytics with agentic capabilities to execute tasks autonomously, from optimizing campaigns to forecasting outcomes, according to a Business Wire release (Zeta Live 2025: Zeta Global Unveils Athena by Zeta™, a Conversational, Superintelligent Agent that Transforms Questions into Actionable Answers). "Athena represents the next evolution of AI, where systems don't just respond to queries but proactively drive business outcomes," said a Zeta executive. Similarly, enterprise software firm Joget launched a no-code AI Agent Builder, enabling organizations to automate routine tasks across HR, procurement, and supply chain operations while retaining human oversight, according to a Joget press release (Joget Unlocks Autonomous Productivity Across HR, Procurement, Customer Service, and Supply Chain with No-Code AI Agent Builder). These tools align with Gartner's prediction that 33% of enterprise software applications will incorporate agentic AI by 2028.

Yet, the AI sector's rapid evolution is not without turbulence. C3.ai, a once-high-flying AI platform provider, faces mounting legal and financial headwinds. Multiple law firms—including Levi & Korsinsky, Gross Law Firm, and Glancy Prongay & Murray—have filed class-action lawsuits alleging securities fraud: a Levi & Korsinsky reminder details a lead plaintiff deadline (Levi & Korsinsky Reminds Shareholders of a Lead Plaintiff Deadline of October 21, 2025 in C3.ai Lawsuit – AI), a MarketScreener article noted shareholder opportunities (C3.ai, Inc. (AI) Shareholders Who Lost Money Have Opportunity to Lead Securities Fraud Lawsuit), and the Portnoy Law Firm announced a class action on behalf of investors (Portnoy Law Firm Announces Class Action on Behalf of C3.ai, Inc. Investors). The company's recent fiscal Q1 results underscored the fallout: revenue fell to $70.3 million from $87.2 million year-over-year, while its loss widened to $124.8 million, according to a Motley Fool analysis (Better Artificial Intelligence Stock: BigBear.ai vs. C3.ai).

C3.ai's struggles reflect broader challenges in the AI industry. Competitor BigBear.ai also grappled with federal budget cuts, slashing its 2025 revenue forecast to $125–140 million from $158.2 million in 2024. Meanwhile, C3.ai's pivot to a new CEO and reliance on Microsoft's sales network highlight the sector's precarious balance between innovation and execution. Analysts note that while C3.ai's lower forward price-to-sales ratio presents a potential buying opportunity, its operational risks remain significant.

The duality of agentic AI—its promise and peril—raises urgent questions for enterprises. As Zeta and Joget demonstrate, autonomous systems can enhance productivity and decision-making. Yet cases like C3.ai illustrate the legal, governance, and leadership challenges inherent in AI's ascent. "Agentic AI isn't just a tool—it's a force reshaping workflows, accountability, and corporate strategy," said one industry observer. For enterprises, the imperative is clear: harness the technology's potential while navigating its risks with transparency and agility.