Former Android leaders, including Hugo Barra, have founded a new startup called /dev/agents, which aims to create an operating system specifically designed for AI agents. This move marks a significant shift in the tech industry, as AI companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are poised to launch their own AI agent products in the coming months.

The concept of AI agents promises to revolutionize digital assistants, enabling them to carry out tasks and make decisions autonomously with minimal human input. However, /dev/agents cofounder and CEO David Singleton, formerly Google's VP of Android engineering, believes that the industry needs a fundamental change to make AI agents a reality. "We can see the promise of AI agents, but as a developer, it's just too hard to build anything good," Singleton told Bloomberg.

Singleton's vision for /dev/agents is to create a cloud-based, next-generation operating system that allows trusted AI agents to work seamlessly with users across all their devices. This would require new UI patterns, a reimagined privacy model, and a developer platform that simplifies the process of building useful AI agents. Barra, who serves as /dev/agents' chief product officer, emphasized the need for an "Android-like moment for AI," hinting at the transformative impact that Android had on the smartphone industry.

The /dev/agents team boasts an impressive lineup of industry veterans, including CTO Ficus Kirkpatrick, an early Android engineer and former VP of AR and VR at Meta, and chief design officer Nicholas Jitkoff, who worked on ChromeOS design. This collective expertise will be crucial in developing an operating system that can meet the complex demands of AI agents.

The implications of /dev/agents' operating system are far-reaching, with potential applications in various industries, from customer service to healthcare. By providing a unified platform for AI agents, /dev/agents could enable the creation of more sophisticated and user-friendly AI-powered tools, ultimately transforming the way humans interact with technology.

As the tech industry hurtles towards an AI-driven future, /dev/agents' innovative approach could be a game-changer. With the collective experience of its founders and the promise of a seamless user experience, /dev/agents is poised to make a significant impact on the development of AI agents and beyond.