Hello friends, hope this post finds you in good health and spirit!
We recently went on a family vacation. We had to book tickets, hotels, and local sightseeing activities. But we also had to keep our toddler in mind. The hotel had to be kid-friendly, we couldn’t travel long distances in taxis, and adventurous outings were off the table. Exhausting, right?
Luckily, we managed everything. But imagine if I could simply give these requirements to an AI agent, and it not only found the best options but also booked them for me once I approved. Wouldn’t that be amazing?
That’s the world we’re heading toward with the Open Agentic Web– a smarter, action-driven version of the internet where AI agents interact with websites on your behalf using natural language, and can even take real actions.
What Is the Open Agentic Web?
The Agentic Web is a new way of thinking about how we interact with the internet. Traditionally, users search, click, read, and act. In an agentic world, AI assistants do that for you.
It’s based on two key ideas:
- Agentic: AI systems act as intelligent agents, capable of taking action on behalf of the user.
- Open Web: This approach works across the public internet, not just with selected APIs or closed ecosystems.
So, instead of being just a passive repository of information, websites become interactive endpoints that AI agents can understand, interpret, and act upon. You can ask your AI: “Book a table for two at an Italian restaurant nearby” or “Find me the best deal on a 4K monitor,” and it will know which sites to visit and how to interact with them—without needing custom APIs.
Why is it different from APIs?
Traditionally, bots and assistants have relied on APIs to interact with online services. But not every website provides an API—and even if they do, access is often restricted or requires custom development.
The Open Agentic Web changes this. It allows AI agents to understand the structure and functionality of websites just like a human would—by parsing layout, interpreting content, clicking buttons, filling forms, and retrieving data. All this happens without backend access or custom integrations.
This opens up a much larger portion of the web—far beyond what APIs alone can offer.
Building blocks of Open Agentic Web?
For the Open Agentic Web to become a reality, AI agents must not only understand what’s on a page but also be able to interact with it—click buttons, compare products, book services, troubleshoot issues—without being explicitly programmed for each site.
But here is the challenge, the current web is built for human users, not machines. Its structure isn’t always legible for AI, and its functionality isn’t exposed in agent-friendly formats.
That’s where NLWeb and MCP come into play.
NLWeb (Natural Language Web) is an open standard that allows websites to describe their structure and actions in a way AI agents can understand. Instead of writing custom APIs for every use case, websites can declare their functionality—like “search flights,” “add to cart,” or “check availability”—in natural language linked to page elements.
MCP (Model Context Protocol) acts as the bridge between AI models and this newly structured web. It governs how agents retrieve and interpret this data, handles permissions and access rules, and ensures that the interaction remains safe, secure, and transparent.
📌 Example: Imagine saying, “Book me a direct flight from Bangalore to Delhi tomorrow morning for under ₹5,000.”
Your AI assistant can then:
- Understand your intent (what you are asking for)
- Scan travel websites
- Interpret their structure using NLWeb annotations
- Apply your filters and constraints
- Fill out the booking form
- Confirm the booking if you approve
All this without a single line of custom backend code or direct API integration. Magic? No—just the Agentic Web in action.
Why It Matters: A Smarter Web for Everyone
The Open Agentic Web isn’t just a technical innovation but a fundamental shift in how the web will work. This will impact all the different stakeholders as:
For users, this means less effort and more convenience. Complex tasks that currently require multiple steps can now be completed through a single, conversational command.
For developers, there is no longer a need to build complex APIs for every interaction. Instead, by adding simple natural-language annotations (NLWeb), they can make their websites agent-ready.
For businesses, this opens a new digital channel. Being “agent-compatible” could drive more engagement, higher conversions, and improved user satisfaction as AI agents begin to shape how traffic flows.
What the Future Holds: Preparing for an AI-First Internet
The idea of AI agents acting on our behalf isn’t futuristic and is already taking shape. At Microsoft Build 2025, technologies like NLWeb and MCP were introduced to bring this vision to life. And Microsoft isn’t alone. OpenAI, Google, Apple, and others are exploring agent-first experiences where assistants become your front door to the internet.
But the success of the Open Agentic Web depends on participation. Websites must opt in, provide the right markup, and expose their structure in a way agents can consume. This won’t happen overnight. But much like the early days of SEO or mobile-friendly design, those who start early are likely to gain a competitive edge.
So, this wave is coming. It’s subtle, it’s intelligent, and it’s going to change how we use the web, just like smartphones and APIs did before it. So before I say ta-ta from this post, here’s the question I will leave you with:
Are you ready for the Agentic Web?
If you want to read more about my post on AI agents, you can find it here – https://vinitpandey.com/2024/12/23/ai-agents-have-entered-workplace-impact-on-jobs-and-businesses/
You can watch Microsoft build on Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceV3RsG946s&t=4953s
AN IT DIARY of AI, Windows, MEM & PowerShell 