Why Normal People Aren’t Using AI Agents

Silicon Valley’s enthusiasm for AI agents has reached a fever pitch. Payments systems, job automation, and anti-hacking measures are all being touted as the key to unlocking the future. Yet, despite the hype, most people outside of tech circles remain unaware – or unimpressed.

Josh Miller, CEO of The Browser Company, recently posted on X: “Hot take … isn’t it kinda crazy that nobody is really using AI Agents?” His point is well-taken: if the tech industry is so confident in its latest obsession, why aren’t everyday people clamoring for these agents?

The answer lies not just with the general public’s disinterest but also within Silicon Valley itself. The industry has focused on building complex products that showcase AI capabilities without considering what this means for the end-user. Are these tools solving real problems or merely serving as tech demos?

Miller argues that agents are more of a technology than a standalone product, which points to a crucial distinction: most people don’t care about AI agents because they’re not marketed as solutions to everyday needs. Instead, they’re presented as futuristic tools often accompanied by sci-fi visions of how they should be used.

The Browser Company’s popular feature, Dia’s morning briefing, is an example of this. This AI agent-powered tool presents users with a personalized homepage, including tasks and tidbits designed to spark joy. Miller is right – the user doesn’t need to know (or care) that this feature was made possible by an AI agent; it’s the product itself that matters.

This is where groupthink comes in. The AI industry has become so enthralled with the possibilities of agents that it’s lost sight of what people actually want. Miller recounts his meetings with top AI lab leaders, who all seemed to be drawing inspiration from the movie Her – a romanticized vision of AI-human relationships. While admirable, this sci-fi fantasy is at odds with reality.

For mainstream adoption to happen, Silicon Valley needs to rethink its approach. Instead of building complex tools that showcase AI capabilities, it should focus on creating products that address everyday problems. This means shifting from the “tech demo” mindset to one of user-centric design.

Miller hopes his message will resonate beyond OpenAI and Anthropic, inspiring founders and product builders to think outside the box. The industry’s biggest challenge is not just convincing people to use AI agents but also to believe in their value proposition. Until Silicon Valley starts creating products that are “joyful, useful, and approachable,” it risks repeating the same mistakes of previous tech fads – with the added cost of billions invested in AI research.

As Miller astutely puts it, “Let’s not just accept this narrative of AI agents and actually question what are good products and tools.” The time for self-congratulatory cheerleading is over. It’s time to get back to basics: building products that people actually want to use.

The future of AI agents depends on Silicon Valley putting users at the forefront of development, rather than being trapped in a perpetual cycle of hype and disillusionment.