Updated on by Hayley Brown
It’s the next step next evolution of the web. For decades, the internet has evolved in waves. Each wave has reshaped how we create, consume, and interact with information online. Now, we stand at the cusp of another shift: the rise of the Agentic Web.
Unlike past eras of the web defined by static content, social interactivity, or decentralised ownership, the agentic web is defined by autonomous AI agents acting on behalf of users.
Agentic Web Definition
It is a term that has been thrown around recently, and when reading MIT’s report The GenAI Divide agentic web was mentioned on multiple occasions. The AI landscape is continually changing and evolving with many now feeling the enterprise AI bubble is soon to crash. So naturally there is further evolution.
They defined the agentic web as “a mesh of interoperable agents and protocols that replaces monolithic applications with dynamic coordination layers.” It has been deemed the next evolution beyond individual AI agents. For instance, protocols like Model Context Protocol (MCP), Agent-to-Agent (A2A) and NANDA all enable agent interoperability and coordination. They create market competition and cost efficiencies allowing specialised agents to work together rather than requiring monolithic systems. These frameworks form the foundation of the emerging Agentic Web.
In other words, “agentic web” is a term used to describe an emerging phase of the internet where AI agents actively operate on behalf of users, not just serving up information but taking actions, making decisions, and collaborating with other agents and services.
How does it work?
Instead of the traditional web where people click links, fill forms, and manually move between apps, the agentic web envisions:
- Autonomous agents: AI programs that understand goals and act independently. For example booking flights, managing schedules and negotiating purchases.
- Inter-agent communication: Agents interacting with other agents, APIs, and websites to complete tasks without constant human input.
- Personalisation at scale: Each person’s agent can learn their preferences, context, and history, making the internet feel more like a personal operating system.
- Shift from search to delegation: Instead of asking “What’s the best hotel in Rome?”, you might say “Book me a hotel in Rome under £250/night near historic sites,” and your agent handles the research and booking.
It’s still in development, but companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and various startups are building towards this idea with AI assistants, autonomous workflows, and interoperable agents.
From Web1 to Web3 and Beyond
Web1 also known as The Static Web was where information was published and consumed. In other words, users were readers, not participants.
Web2 known as The Social Web was when Platforms enabled user-generated content, social networking, and dynamic interaction. The web became participatory.
Web3 termed The Decentralised Web introduced the idea of ownership, digital scarcity, and peer-to-peer exchange powered by blockchain. Users could own assets, identities, and data directly.
Now enters the next stage:
The Agentic Web, a web where intelligent agents perform tasks, make decisions, and collaborate across digital ecosystems. Instead of you browsing, searching, or transacting manually, agents negotiate, automate, and execute on your behalf.
Agentic Web vs. Web3
It’s easy to confuse the agentic web with Web3 because both promise a reimagined internet. But their core foundations differ:
| Web3 | Agentic Web | |
| Core Idea | Decentralisation and digital ownership | AI agents acting on behalf of humans |
| Technology Stack | Blockchain, smart contracts, crypto | Large language models, AI agents, interoperability layers |
| User Experience | Users manage wallets, tokens, DAOs | Users delegate goals to agents (e.g., “Plan my trip”) |
| Primary Value | Trustless transactions & ownership | Automation, personalisation, and delegation |
| Challenges | Scalability, regulation, adoption | Reliability, alignment, security of agents |
In fact, the two could converge: AI agents could use decentralised systems to transact securely or verify digital identities. But conceptually, Web3 is about infrastructure and ownership, while the agentic web is about experience and action.
Why the Agentic Web Matters
From search to delegation, instead of typing queries into Google, users will assign outcomes. For instance, “Find me the best health insurance plan,” “Negotiate my car lease,” or “Book a weekend trip within £500.”
Personalised and always-on assistants. In other words, agents will understand users history, preferences, and goals. Over time, it will anticipate needs before they’ve been voiced.
Business model shifts that result in companies designing products and services with agents as the primary audience. Instead of optimising for human clicks and ads, businesses will optimise for how agents discover, evaluate, and transact.
Increased interoperability and collaboration, the agentic web thrives on agents talking to other agents, APIs, and systems. This could streamline workflows in ways that make today’s SaaS integrations look primitive.
New risks, just like Web2 brought misinformation and Web3 brought scams, the agentic web introduces challenges. These could be agent alignment, bias, manipulation, and security. Trust frameworks will be essential.
A Paradigm Shift in How We Use the Internet
The agentic web isn’t here to replace Web3, it’s the next frontier in how humans and machines interact online. If Web3 focused on who owns the internet, the agentic web focuses on who acts within it.
For businesses, developers, and everyday users, the implications are profound. We’re moving from an internet where humans click, scroll, and transact, to one where machines understand intent and act on our behalf.
It’s a shift from doing things on the internet to having things done for us through the internet.
