What's Missing in the 'Agentic' Story

4 hours ago

Historically, tools like computers were trusted to perform only their intended functions, but modern Internet-connected devices often embed the interests of their creators, which may not align with users.
Examples of trust violations include TVs spying on users, Meta accessing private data, Microsoft sending passwords to third parties, and various automakers sharing data with insurers and brokers.
The web browser acts as a user agent, balancing interests between users and websites through standardized processes, preventing each interaction from requiring individual negotiation.
Current AI agent models lack a well-defined user agent role with transparent standards, making trust difficult for both users and data sources, which could limit adoption.
Developing an AI user agent would involve constraints like standardized tool APIs, permission models, and sandboxing to build trust and enable market growth, similar to web standards.

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