Will agents have network effects?

Founder takeaway

Don’t assume an AI agent gains defensibility merely by attracting users. Design explicit loops in which agent activity drives distribution or repeat engagement, and decide whether interoperability or a walled garden best reinforces those loops.

Why it matters

Without a mechanism that compounds demand or engagement, an agent may remain easy to copy and costly to grow. Identifying the loop clarifies whether usage actually strengthens the product over time.

Relevant guides

Put it to work

Map one complete loop: after a user delegates a task to your agent, what outcome brings that user back or attracts another user—and what prevents the loop from leaking to competing platforms?