What is Agent Experience?
Understanding the new frontier of software design in the age of AI agents
Our Analysis Methodology
Agent Experience (AX)
Machine Readability & ANPS
What is Agent Experience?
Agent Experience (AX) refers to the holistic experience AI agents have when interacting with a product, platform, or system. It encompasses how easily agents can access, understand, and operate within digital environments to achieve user-defined goals.
Just as User Experience (UX) focuses on human interactions with a product and Developer Experience (DX) optimizes the experience of building on a platform, AX is about ensuring that AI agents can seamlessly interact with and extend digital products. This includes providing well-structured APIs, machine-readable documentation, and clear operational contexts for AI systems.
Agent Net Promoter Score (ANPS) Categories:
Highly optimized for agents. Clear APIs, perfect structured data. Agents can easily recommend and use this product.
Readable but not optimized. Agents can access basic information but may struggle with complex interactions.
Difficult or impossible for agents to parse. Unstructured data or technical blocks prevent agent access.
The Origin of AX
In 1993, cognitive psychologist and designer Don Norman coined the term "user experience" (UX). In 2011, Jeremiah Lee coined "developer experience" (DX) to describe the experience for developers building on platforms.
In January 2025, Mathias Biilmann, CEO and co-founder of Netlify, introduced "Agent Experience" (AX) to describe the holistic experience AI agents will have as users of a product or platform.
How AX Relates to UX and DX
Human-product interactions
Developer tools & APIs
AI agent interactions
Why AX Matters
AI agents are becoming the entry point for the next generation of digital users. Without a good AX, your product may not be "visible" to the AI economy.
Platforms that are hard for LLMs and agents to use will require more manual intervention. Tools that are simple for agents to integrate with will become vastly more capable and popular.
AX in Practice
Key AX Considerations
- Is it simple for an Agent to operate on behalf of a user?
- Are there clean, well-described APIs?
- Is documentation machine-ready for LLMs?
Learn More About Agent Experience
AX is a substantial, industry-level opportunity that requires an open, collaborative approach to achieve. Netlify has helped define AX and bring together industry collaborators to pave a path forward.
Visit agentexperience.ax