Software for Agents

Why It Matters

Agent‑first software will become the essential infrastructure for the AI‑driven economy, creating a multibillion‑dollar market for startups that rebuild tools for autonomous use.

Key Takeaways

• AI agents will become the next trillion internet users.
• Current software built for humans is inefficient for autonomous agents.
• Agents require machine‑readable interfaces: APIs, MCPs, and CLIs.
• Comprehensive, programmatic documentation is essential for agent adoption.
• Startups, not incumbents, will lead agent‑first software development.

Summary

The video argues that the next trillion users of the internet will be AI agents, not humans, and that today’s software—designed for clicks and forms—is ill‑suited for autonomous operation. It calls for a shift toward building tools that agents can consume directly.

Agents already browse, conduct research, make purchases, and manage legacy CRM systems, but they do so on brittle, visual‑only interfaces. To scale, they need machine‑readable entry points—robust APIs, Managed Cloud Platforms (MCPs), and command‑line interfaces—paired with thorough, programmatic documentation that lets them discover and integrate services without human intervention.

The speaker notes that incumbents are likely to retrofit existing products, while true innovation will come from startups that treat agents as first‑class citizens from day one. Examples include agents handling e‑commerce transactions and CRM updates autonomously, highlighting the urgency of redesigning every major software category.

If developers pivot now, they can capture a massive, emerging market: the infrastructure layer that powers the AI‑driven economy. Investors and enterprises should watch for early‑stage companies building agent‑first platforms, as they stand to become the backbone of the next wave of digital interaction.

Original Description

The next trillion users on the internet won't be people. They'll be AI agents, and they're already doing real work on top of software that was designed for humans clicking buttons.

Every major category of software needs to be rebuilt for agents as first-class citizens, and that won't come from incumbents.

Apply to YC Summer 2026 at ycombinator.com/apply.