As the author of The Agentic Revolution: How AI Agents Will Reshape Software, Startups, and Work, I’ve spent the past months diving deep into the transformative potential of AI agents. This isn’t just another tech trend—it’s a fundamental shift that could rival the impact of the cloud and mobile revolutions. I’ve poured my observations, research, and optimism into this deck, and I want to share my personal perspective on why this matters, where it’s headed, and what it means for founders, investors, and the future of work. Let’s unpack this journey together.

A Personal Take on the Revolution

When I first started exploring AI agents two years ago through the strategy course I completed at Berkeley Haas, I was struck by their promise to move beyond the tools we’ve grown accustomed to—dashboards, copilots, and clunky interfaces. These are systems that don’t just assist us but act on our behalf, autonomously tackling tasks from scheduling a trip to negotiating a contract. As I built this deck, I realized we’re witnessing the birth of a new software layer—one that works for us, not just with us. This feels as momentous as the shift to SaaS enabled by the cloud or the app economy sparked by the iPhone. It’s why I call it the Agentic Revolution.

The data backs this up. Companies spend 35 times more on labor than software, a staggering inefficiency that AI agents are poised to address. With combined valuations of leading AI-first startups like Poolside, Magic, Adept, and Character.AI already exceeding $17 billion—despite generating under $100 million in revenue—the market is signaling its belief in this potential. Yet, as Brett Taylor’s cautionary note in the deck suggests, there’s a hype-reality paradox at play. We’re in an early, overhyped phase, but the long-term transformation could be profound. I believe the outsized returns will go to those who navigate this tension wisely.

The Three Pillars of Change

My deck outlines three core areas where AI agents will leave their mark:

1. A Fundamental Shift in Software: Traditional apps require human hands on the wheel. AI agents, however, operate with real autonomy, making decisions and executing workflows independently. This isn’t about speeding up human work—it’s about redefining what software can do. Imagine a personal agent planning your vacation or a company agent managing customer subscriptions without a single click. That’s the future I’m envisioning.
2. Massive Economic Impact: The numbers tell a compelling story. If agents can slash labor costs while enhancing productivity, we’re looking at trillions in economic value. Low-margin industries, where human labor dominates, stand to benefit most. This isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about unlocking new business models that disrupt the status quo, much like SaaS did for enterprise software.
3. Staged Adoption: The revolution won’t happen overnight. I see it unfolding in waves: first with text-based agents in simple roles, then multi-modal agents tackling complex fields like architecture and gaming, and finally regulated industries like healthcare and finance as trust and accuracy improve. Each wave will build on the last, requiring infrastructure, talent, and regulatory frameworks to mature alongside the technology.

The Opportunity Lies in Applications

While much of the current buzz—and investment—focuses on infrastructure like data centers and foundation models, I’m convinced the real excitement lies in the application layer. Just as SaaS dominated the cloud era, AI agent applications could redefine how we build and deliver software. Industries with built-in failover mechanisms, like customer support, are ideal starting points. Over time, agents will transform horizontal tools, vertical solutions, and even consumer services, challenging the point-and-click, seat-based SaaS models we’ve relied on.

Take regulated industries, for instance. As AI accuracy improves, it creates defensible moats—think healthcare diagnostics or financial advisory tools that comply with strict standards. This is where I see early movers gaining a competitive edge. My deck highlights companies like Hoola (e-commerce shopping assistants) and Rauda (autonomous customer service agents) as examples of this trend, reflecting my own interest—and investments through JME.vc—in this space.

The Challenges Ahead

This revolution isn’t without hurdles. Agents bring unpredictability—unlike rule-based software, their variable outputs demand new strategies for reliability. The high costs of running large language models (LLMs) and the need for frequent re-training after updates add complexity. As I note in the deck, privacy, efficiency, and accuracy are non-negotiable prerequisites for success. Building a robust infrastructure layer—think authentication tools like Anon, development frameworks like Langchain, or memory systems like MemGPT—will be critical. I see this as both a challenge and an opportunity for early innovators.

A Call to Action for Founders and Investors

For me, the Agentic Revolution is a call to action. Founders should experiment boldly—take the case study with the Startup Pitch Deck GPT, now with over 25,000 conversations, shows how natural language tools like v0.dev and Claude.ai can accelerate prototyping. Validate ideas early, build with minimal coding, and explore new pricing models that move beyond traditional SaaS constraints.

Investors, meanwhile, should look beyond the infrastructure hype. The application layer offers fertile ground, but so does the emerging infrastructure ecosystem. New roles like Agent Engineers and Ethics Officers will redefine talent strategies—companies that cultivate these skills now will lead the pack. As Felicis and RunwayML suggest, every abundance creates a new scarcity. Deep attention, data protection expertise, and human creativity will become prized assets in this AI-driven world.

My Vision for the Future

I’m excited about what’s next. The Agentic Web might redefine our digital experiences, potentially making traditional websites obsolete as agents handle interactions seamlessly. Adoption will be gradual, but the economic and societal shifts will be seismic. My deck is a roadmap, but it’s also a provocation—let’s build this future together, learning by doing, iterating as we go.

As I reflect on this journey, I’m reminded of the dot-com bubble’s lessons. Many dismissed it as excess, yet it birthed Amazon and Google. The Agentic Revolution may have its overhyped moments, but I’m betting on its transformative power. Join me in shaping it.

-Matt Slonaker