The Scriptures Chanted by OpenAI and Anthropic Might Be Crooked
In the current AI landscape, "Harness-style" Multi-Agent Systems (MAS)—where multiple AI agents with temporary roles collaborate under a central workflow for task efficiency—dominates the conversation, championed by players like OpenAI and Anthropic. However, the author argues this approach, focused on orchestration and software engineering, may be misguided.
A more transformative, yet less discussed, alternative is the "Protocol-Native Agent System." Here, the core unit shifts from task-specific agents to persistent "Personal Agents" or "unmanned companies" that represent individuals. These agents possess sovereignty, long-term memory, identity, resources, and relationships.
This paradigm change transforms MAS from a distributed software system into a digital society. Collaboration can no longer rely on shared prompts or context, but must be built on protocols governing identity, trust, incentives, reputation, and value exchange—essentially, "Protocol as Organization."
The future's true challenge lies not in improving single-agent capabilities, but in enabling long-term coordination among autonomous entities with differing goals, world models, and values. The author suggests that future organizations might themselves be dynamic alliances of such sovereign agents, leading to an "intelligence-native civilization."
marsbit52m ago
