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AX: The Next Evolution in AI Agent Software Design

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Introducing AX: Why Agent Experience Matters

Description:

Mathias Biilmann, CEO of Netlify, explores how Agent Experience (AX) will become as crucial as UX and DX in software development.

Synopsis:

This article covers how to:

  • Design software specifically for AI agent interaction
  • Create open platforms that support multiple agent types
  • Balance human and agent needs in software design
  • Implement practical AX improvements in existing platforms

Context

As AI agents infiltrate the economy, software must evolve to effectively support human and agent users.

The evolution of software design has seen three major paradigm shifts.

In 1993, Don Norman coined “user experience” (UX) to describe how humans interact with systems.

UX brought human-centered design to the forefront of software design.

By 2011, as software became more platform-oriented, Jeremiah Lee introduced “developer experience” (DX) to capture how developers build upon existing systems.

DX recognized developers as a distinct user category with unique needs.

In 2025, agent experience (AX) emerges as the third major paradigm in this evolution.

AX now acknowledges AI agents as first-class users of our systems.

Each transition marked a fundamental shift in how we think about software design.

The timing is particularly relevant as organizations grapple with integrating AI capabilities into their platforms.

Key Implementation Patterns

The article outlines several emerging patterns in AX design:

  1. Platform Integration: Infrastructure
  • Clean, well-described APIs for agent interaction
  • Machine-readable documentation
  • Streamlined authentication flows
  • Clear versioning and compatibility guidelines
  1. Platform Integration: Open Design
  • Support for multiple agent types
  • User choice in agent selection
  • Collaborative workflows between humans and agents
  • Platform-agnostic integration capabilities
  1. Platform Integration: Agent-First Architecture
  • Purpose-built API endpoints for agent use
  • Automated deployment pipelines
  • Resource optimization for agent workflows
  • Built-in verification and validation

These patterns reflect a growing understanding that AI agents require different design considerations than human users or developers.

Strategic Implications

The article points to several crucial strategic considerations:

  1. Development Focus
  • API design optimized for agent consumption
  • Documentation tailored for machine reading
  • Integration patterns for multiple agent types
  • Balance between automation and human oversight
  1. Market Evolution
  • Movement from closed to open-agent ecosystems
  • Competitive advantage through agent accessibility
  • Growing importance of platform interoperability
  • Focus on agent-human collaboration
  1. Business Impact
  • Increased development velocity through agent collaboration
  • Lower barriers to custom development
  • Exponential growth in web applications
  • New paradigms in software interaction

These strategic considerations suggest that organizations need a clear framework for implementing AX in their platforms.

Implementation Framework

For organizations implementing AX:

  1. Platform Assessment
  • Evaluate current agent accessibility
  • Identify integration bottlenecks
  • Map potential agent interactions
  • Define success metrics
  1. Infrastructure Updates
  • Enhance API documentation
  • Implement agent authentication
  • Build verification systems
  • Create monitoring tools
  1. Ecosystem Development
  • Foster agent partnerships
  • Build developer communities
  • Create example implementations
  • Share best practices

As teams implement these frameworks, several key insights emerge about the future of software design.

Personal Notes

The emphasis on open ecosystems rather than closed, proprietary agent systems is exciting.

This emphasis on open ecosystems mirrors the evolution of the web itself, where open standards and interoperability have driven and continue to drive innovation and growth.

Looking Forward: Agent Integration

The industry will likely evolve to include:

  • Standardized agent interaction protocols
  • Cross-platform agent authentication
  • Unified documentation standards
  • Collaborative development environments
  • Advanced agent-human workflows

Conclusion

The shift toward AX represents a fundamental change in how we think about software design, moving from human-only interfaces to systems that seamlessly support human and agent users.