Agentic Retrieval-Augmented Generation: A Survey on Agentic RAG

Published
Source
arXiv
Paper number
024
Field
RAG / Agents
arXiv ID
2501.09136

Key points

  • Large language models (LLMs) often generate stale or factually incorrect content because they depend on static training data.
  • Traditional retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems use rigid, predefined workflows, which limits complex multi-step reasoning and iterative response refinement.
  • The emerging field of Agentic RAG lacks a unified taxonomy, revealing fragmented system designs and inconsistent terminology.
  • This survey establishes a comprehensive taxonomy for Agentic RAG architectures based on agent cardinality, control structure, autonomy, and knowledge representation.
  • It systematically analyzes the evolution of the RAG paradigm from Naïve RAG through modular and graph-based approaches, contextualizing the emergence of agentic systems.
  • It provides practical guidance for system designers and identifies key open research questions for unifying and advancing Agentic RAG.

Paper links

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