Big Ideas 2026: The Agentic Interface
The a16z Show
2025/12/22
Big Ideas 2026: The Agentic Interface
Big Ideas 2026: The Agentic Interface

The a16z Show
2025/12/22
The era of AI as a passive tool is ending. We're entering a phase where artificial intelligence doesn't just respond—it acts.
This podcast explores the evolution of AI from conversational interfaces to autonomous agents that execute tasks with minimal human intervention. The focus shifts from prompting to proactive problem-solving, especially in enterprise environments like IT support and CRM systems. As AI agents gain agency, software design must evolve to become machine-legible rather than human-first, enabling seamless interpretation and action. A new agent layer is emerging—one that translates user intent into real-world outcomes without relying on traditional workflows. While humans remain in the loop for high-stakes decisions, routine operations are increasingly handled end-to-end by AI. This transformation signals a fundamental rethinking of how software works: not as a tool to be operated, but as an active participant in getting work done.
00:00
00:00
The prompt box won't be the final AI interface
05:14
05:14
In an agent-first world, machine-legible systems become crucial over human-readable design.
08:06
08:06
By 2026, a new dynamic agent layer will replace legacy systems of record
11:43
11:43
The dynamic agent layer will overtake the system of record in 2026