Hoskinson says AI agents threaten Big Tech

Charles Hoskinson said AI agents could become more relevant than humans online within the next decade, fundamentally disrupting the business models of major technology companies.

Speaking during a keynote at the Consensus 2026 conference on Wednesday, Hoskinson said that by 2035 most internet searches, commerce and online activity would likely be conducted by AI agents rather than people.

“Amazon, Google, Facebook, they’re terrified of the agentic revolution,”

Said Charles Hoskinson, adding:

“All of their business models are going to be disrupted.”

Hoskinson argued AI agents do not click advertisements or maintain brand loyalty, threatening the advertising-driven revenue models that support platforms operated by Alphabet Inc, Amazon.com Inc.

He also said AI systems would increasingly perform crypto-related tasks including transaction execution, decentralised finance interactions and due diligence, echoing previous predictions from Brian Armstrong and Changpeng Zhao that AI agents could eventually outnumber humans in crypto transactions.

“You have to own your data. You have to own your identity. You have to own your money,”

Said Charles Hoskinson, warning users against relying heavily on custodial wallets, permissioned networks and third-party intermediaries.

Hoskinson also criticised fragmentation across blockchain ecosystems and poor onboarding experiences for slowing crypto adoption, while pointing to growing institutional acceptance from firms including JPMorgan Chase & Co.