Box CEO Aaron Levie's advice to developers? Build software that cash-holding AI agents — not humans — want to use

The idea of AI agents equipped with financial capabilities is gaining traction. Aaron Levie, co-founder and CEO of Box, recently shared his insights with Business Insider, suggesting that the online landscape is increasingly catering to these digital entities rather than just humans. In a phone interview, Levie expressed his belief that AI agents could soon become the primary users of the internet. "The timeline, by volume, is already upon us," he stated, indicating that this transformation is not a distant prospect but one that is already unfolding. This perspective aligns with the ambitions of leading AI labs such as OpenAI and Anthropic, which are developing sophisticated systems capable of navigating the web, analyzing data, and interpreting complex documents. Levie emphasized that if the involvement of AI agents expands significantly, it could lead to fundamental changes in how the internet operates. Traditionally, software has been designed with human users in mind, featuring user-friendly dashboards and collaborative tools. However, Levie argues that companies will need to pivot towards optimizing their platforms for AI agents. "Much of the internet either needs to get rebuilt, or the software that we use will have to adapt," he noted, describing this shift as a potential seismic change in the industry. This isn't the first time Levie has championed the concept of designing software for AI. In a recent blog post on X, he reiterated the necessity of creating applications that are appealing to these agents. He foresees a future where AI agents will not only assist in tasks but also manage financial transactions, especially in business-to-business contexts. "I might tell an agent to perform a task for me, and I'll allocate $20 for it," he explained. This could open new avenues for revenue generation in industries like content publishing, where agents could be charged nominal fees for accessing specialized data or research. Initially, Levie predicts businesses will adopt this technology, followed by individual consumers who will empower their own AI agents to make purchases. For instance, future agents might be programmed to buy groceries ahead of family gatherings. As public comfort with these technologies grows, consumers may even provide their agents with larger budgets for more varied shopping activities. While many in Silicon Valley share Levie's enthusiasm for the capabilities of AI agents, there are concerns about the potential impact on employment. Notably, OpenAI investor Vinod Khosla has suggested that AI could eliminate 80% of U.S. jobs in the coming decade. Some industry leaders, including Boris Cherny and Anthropic's Dario Amodei, have also warned about the risks to entry-level white-collar positions. However, Levie adopts a more optimistic viewpoint, focusing on how the internet can be reimagined for an AI-centric future rather than fixating on job displacement. He remarked, "This new update of what agents might lead to a positive update... It’s a dynamic of whose content gets integrated into the agent's workflow, which presents a new challenge for everyone involved."