Vint Cerf, one of the fathers of the internet, has taken a new gig at Innovation Labs. The firm aims to create an open framework for artificial intelligence agents to interact on the web, potentially giving birth to a new 'agentic economy'.

Most AI today operates in closed systems but Cerf envisions a future where these intelligent bots roam freely online, interacting and making decisions autonomously. The challenge lies in establishing standards that can both identify and hold accountable these digital entities.

Cerf highlights the complexity: 'AI agents are so much more active than domains, and it’s not yet clear what commitment an organization is making when they register one.' This could lead to a fascinating but potentially frustrating period for internet users as standards evolve.

The proposal from Innovation Labs includes DNSid, a system that links AI agents to existing internet domain names via cryptographic proofs. However, the success of any such protocol will hinge on its functionality and user acceptance, much like how TCP/IP became dominant.

For Cerf, it’s about making things easier for humans: 'We are fundamentally lazy creatures, and if we find a way to have an agent do something for us, we’re very likely to choose to do that because it’s just easier.'