What exactly is an AI agent, and how will agents change the way we work?In this episode, a16z general partners Erik Torenberg and Martin Casado sit down with Aaron Levie (CEO, Box) and Steven Sinofsky (a16z board partner; former Microsoft exec) to unpack one of the hottest debates in AI right now.They cover:<ul><li>Competing definitions of an “agent,” from background tasks to autonomous interns</li><li>Why today’s agents look less like a single AGI and more like networks of specialized sub-agents</li><li>The technical challenges of long-running, self-improving systems</li><li>How agent-driven workflows could reshape coding, productivity, and enterprise software</li><li>What history — from the early PC era to the rise of the internet — tells us about platform shifts like this one</li></ul>The conversation moves from deep technical questions to big-picture implications for founders, enterprises, and the future of work. Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction: The Evolution of AI Agents0:36 Defining Agency and Autonomy1:54 Long-Running Agents and Feedback Loops4:49 Specialization and Task Division in AI6:20 Human-AI Collaboration and Productivity6:59 Anthropomorphizing AI and Economic Impact9:10 Predictions, Progress, and Platform Shifts11:31 Recursive Self-Improvement and Technical Challenges13:20 Hallucinations, Verification, and Expert Productivity16:20 The Role of Experts and Tool Adoption22:14 Changing Workflows: Agents Reshaping Work Patterns45:55 Division of Labor, Specialization, and New Roles48:47 Verticalization, Applied AI, and the Future of Agents54:44 Platform Competition and the Application Layer55:29 Closing Thoughts and Takeaways  Resources: Find Aaron on X: <a href="https://x.com/levie">https://x.com/levie</a>Find Martin on X: <a href="https://x.com/martin_casado">https://x.com/martin_casado</a>Find Steven on X: <a href="https://x.com/stevesi">https://x.com/stevesi</a> Stay Updated: Let us know what you think: <a href="https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z">https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z</a>Find a16z on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/a16z">https://twitter.com/a16z</a>Find a16z on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z">https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z</a>Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: <a href="https://a16z.simplecast.com/">https://a16z.simplecast.com/</a>Follow our host: <a href="https://x.com/eriktorenberg">https://x.com/eriktorenberg</a>Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

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Aaron Levie and Steven Sinofsky on the AI-Worker Future

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