How Agentic AI Will Define the Next Wave of Enterprise Technology and Investment Opportunities

The artificial intelligence landscape is entering a pivotal transformation that will define the next chapter of enterprise software and technology investing. While generative AI captured headlines with innovations like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Alphabet’s Gemini, the real game-changer emerging now is agentic AI—a more autonomous form of artificial intelligence that goes far beyond what current AI chatbots can accomplish.

The Rise of Agentic AI: Understanding the Market Shift

Agentic AI represents a fundamental evolution in how businesses will leverage machine learning. Unlike generative AI, which requires human review and validation at each step, agentic AI deploys autonomous agents capable of executing complex tasks independently within designated business workflows. These AI agents can handle everything from data processing to decision-making, functioning as a genuine virtual workforce.

However, this greater autonomy introduces new challenges. The most critical concern is that AI systems are still prone to “hallucinations”—instances where the AI generates plausible-sounding but entirely fabricated information. While humans can easily catch and correct such errors in chatbot interactions, the stakes change dramatically when autonomous agents make decisions that directly impact business operations. A hallucination from an AI agent managing financial transactions or customer data could cause real damage.

The complexity escalates further as enterprises adopt AI agents from multiple vendors. Most major software providers have now developed proprietary AI agents tailored to their platforms, leaving organizations to manage a fragmented ecosystem of different AI tools. This fragmentation creates significant governance and coordination challenges that existing AI infrastructure wasn’t designed to handle.

UiPath’s Maestro: Orchestrating the Multi-Vendor AI Future

In this fragmented landscape, one company appears uniquely positioned to define how enterprises will manage this new reality: UiPath (NYSE: PATH). The company built its reputation through robotic process automation (RPA), which pioneered the use of software bots to automate routine, rule-based tasks like data entry or customer enrollment processes. Crucially, UiPath’s platform wasn’t designed to let bots operate in the wild—it implemented strict governance protocols and compliance frameworks that kept automation processes controlled and auditable.

That foundational expertise in managing automated workflows has proven invaluable as UiPath transitions into the agentic AI era. The company has launched an orchestration platform called Maestro, specifically designed to address the multi-vendor management problem. Maestro functions as a Switzerland-like neutral ground where organizations can govern and manage AI agents from any source, whether they’re built by UiPath itself or sourced from other providers.

The platform’s sophistication extends further: Maestro intelligently assigns tasks to the most cost-effective solution available. Since software bots remain significantly cheaper to operate than AI agents, the platform optimizes workflows by routing simple tasks to legacy bots while reserving expensive AI agent capacity for complex problems that truly require autonomous intelligence. This architectural advantage means organizations can avoid the trap of over-utilizing premium AI capabilities for routine work.

Though UiPath remains in the early stages of monetizing this new orchestration opportunity, the company has already demonstrated accelerating revenue growth in recent quarters—a promising signal that the market recognizes the value of its positioned approach.

Valuation and Growth: Why This Stock Commands Attention

From a financial perspective, UiPath’s stock presents an intriguing opportunity. The company trades at a forward price-to-sales multiple below 4.5x and a forward price-to-earnings ratio near 19—valuations that appear quite attractive for a company positioned at the center of an emerging technology shift. If UiPath can sustain its recent acceleration in revenue growth, these valuations suggest meaningful upside potential exists.

History provides instructive examples of what happens when emerging technology leaders are correctly identified early. When the Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor team recommended Netflix on December 17, 2004, a $1,000 investment at that time would have grown to $450,525. Similarly, an early Nvidia recommendation on April 15, 2005, would have turned $1,000 into $1,133,107 for patient investors. These cases illustrate how identifying the right technology platform at the right inflection point can define extraordinary long-term returns.

Positioning for the Next Chapter of AI Investment

The emergence of agentic AI creates a specific investment thesis: companies that solve the coordination and governance problems within this new ecosystem may come to define the technology market for the next decade. UiPath’s existing relationships with enterprise customers, its governance infrastructure, and its neutral positioning give it distinct advantages in capturing this opportunity.

That said, the investment community remains divided on UiPath’s trajectory. The Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor team identified their 10 best stocks for the current investing cycle, and UiPath wasn’t included in that list—reflecting the ongoing debate about the company’s execution and growth path. The Stock Advisor service has historically delivered a 937% average return compared to the S&P 500’s 195%, demonstrating the value of disciplined stock selection. Whether UiPath ultimately defines the agentic AI era or remains a supporting player will likely depend on execution factors that extend well beyond current valuations.

Stock Advisor returns as of January 23, 2026

Disclosure: Geoffrey Seiler holds positions in both Alphabet and UiPath. The Motley Fool maintains positions in and recommends both Alphabet and UiPath.