According to PANews, the AI Agent sector is experiencing significant challenges, with many projects seeing a drastic decline in value from 19 billion to 6 billion. This has left many investors and stakeholders in a state of confusion and concern. The initial phase of any new trend often sees a high number of failed projects, as the pace of new asset creation outstrips the realization of innovative projects. Despite efforts by researchers to identify valuable projects, the AI Agent narrative remains largely speculative.
The future of AI Agents depends on the emergence of sustainable models that can attract significant investment. The integration of AI and cryptocurrency is a historic convergence, and while some criticize the speculative nature of AI Agents in the web3 space, the core application-driven nature of AI Agents remains unchanged. Web2 focuses on API calls and user payments, while web3 emphasizes tokenomics. Each AI Agent concept will eventually be validated in specific application scenarios.
For instance, DeFai AI Agents aim to autonomously manage assets using TEEs, with the ultimate goal of enabling AI to perform operations like swaps and staking based on natural language understanding. The true test of a project's viability lies in its ability to increase TVL, enhance user experience, and optimize on-chain transactions. Until these aspects are verified, it is difficult to predict which projects will succeed.
Currently, the AI Agent sector is fragmented into various subfields, including standalone AI, framework standards, and DeFai. However, many projects still exhibit a lack of maturity. The chaotic early stages of innovation are marked by irrational market expectations and flawed valuation systems. Despite these challenges, the market's potential remains, with dedicated holders and capable startups entering the field. Companies like Arc are actively challenging established players like ai16z.
The initial wave of AI Agent projects, driven by rapid asset issuance and meme-based strategies, has been largely discredited. However, a new wave of innovation is building momentum. This period of market cooling may present an opportunity for investors and researchers to identify promising projects with potential for long-term success.