Agent Experience: Building an Open Web for the AI Era
Mar 7, 2025
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Matt Biilmann, CEO and co-founder of Netlify, discusses how AI is revolutionizing web development with Martin Casado. They explore the concept of Agent Experience (AX), emphasizing AI agents as collaborators rather than mere tools. Matt reveals the impact of AI on the democratization of coding, fostering new creative processes and enhancing user experiences. They also debate the potential risks of not adapting to this AI-driven future, advocating for an open web versus a landscape dominated by walled gardens.
The introduction of Agent Experience (AX) signifies a pivotal shift in web development where AI agents actively collaborate with developers, enhancing creativity and innovation.
The democratization of web development through generative AI is empowering a new wave of developers to create unique, innovative experiences, transforming the traditional landscape of the web.
Deep dives
The Emergence of Agent Experience
The concept of agent experience (AX) is introduced as a significant evolution in web development, paralleling the earlier emergence of user experience (UX) and developer experience (DX). AX emphasizes the importance of creating a holistic interaction framework where AI agents collaborate with developers and users to enhance web creation and experience. This shift towards recognizing the role of AI agents in building web elements aims to unlock new possibilities, enabling innovations that were previously challenging. As developers increasingly rely on AI to write code and create assets, the focus is on providing the right tools that facilitate this enhanced collaboration.
AI's Impact on Web Development
The integration of generative AI is seen as a catalyst for revitalizing web development, potentially leading to a surge in the number of new web developers. The lowering of barriers to entry allows a broader spectrum of individuals, including those without extensive coding backgrounds, to engage in web development. This democratization of technology means that while AI can generate websites rapidly, the forthcoming changes will involve more creative and unique offerings that users can construct. The emphasis lies not on replicating existing designs but on fostering innovation in site aesthetics, functionality, and interactivity.
The Role of Standards in Agent Experience
Moving forward, establishing standards that govern agent experience is deemed crucial for maximizing the potential of AI in the web ecosystem. The aim is to create protocols that define how AI agents can operate within different domains and what interactions are possible. By examining the interactions between agents and the web, new dimensions of creativity and usability can emerge, ensuring that AI tools enhance rather than isolate the web experience. This focus on collaboration and integration could lead to the formation of shared experiences that connect users and allow for more dynamic interactions.
Future Web Development Trends
The future of web development may shape a thriving environment where a new generation of developers, potentially numbering in the millions, create unique, innovative web experiences. This evolution is driven by the synergy between human creativity and AI capabilities, leading to the production of resource-efficient applications and a richer array of content. As creativity flourishes, the web is projected to capitalize on vast possibilities, making it a central platform for creative expression and professional applications alike. Ultimately, ensuring that this growth remains open and accessible, rather than retreating to isolated environments, is vital for maintaining the web's role as an expansive creative space.
In this episode of AI + a16z, Netlify CEO and Cofounder Matt Biilmann joins a16z General Partner Martin Casado to explore how AI is reshaping web development — not just through faster code generation, but by fundamentally shifting how we think about building for the web. At the center of this shift is Agent Experience (AX), a new paradigm where AI agents aren’t just tools, but active participants in development, shaping both the creative process and the underlying infrastructure.
Matt shares how Netlify is evolving to meet this future, why the next 100 million web developers will collaborate with AI, and what’s at stake if the web doesn’t adapt — will we see a thriving, open, AI-powered internet, or a future dominated by walled gardens?