Meet the Agents at USV: Arthur, Ellie, Sally, and Friends

In the world of technology, innovation often thrives in unexpected places. A prime example of this is the story of Building 20 at MIT, a temporary wooden structure built during World War II to house the urgent classified development of radar technology. As described in Stewart Brand’s "How Buildings Learn," this hastily constructed three-story building was meant to be a temporary solution, but it ended up becoming one of the most cherished and productive buildings on campus for over 55 years.

During the war, MIT needed a rapid and efficient way to accommodate the influx of researchers working on radar technology. The construction of Building 20 was a marvel of speed and ingenuity. Workers would start nailing floorboards, with a man behind them driving nails in with a single blow, followed by another worker placing wooden posts for the second floor. This relentless pace of construction was almost like watching a time-lapse photograph of a skyscraper coming to life in real time.

Despite being designed as a temporary structure, Building 20 outlasted the war and became a symbol of adaptability and collaboration. The researchers who worked there were empowered to modify the space according to their needs, knocking down walls and rearranging the interior to better suit their workflow. This flexibility allowed the building to evolve and adapt over time, fostering a dynamic and innovative environment that supported groundbreaking research.

Fast forward to the present day, and the concept of adaptability and customization has found its way into the realm of software and artificial intelligence. Over the past year, AI agents have emerged as a powerful tool for teams and individuals to optimize their workflows and accelerate their productivity. These agents, which are designed to fit the specific needs and work habits of their users, have become increasingly prevalent across various industries.

Engineering teams have been at the forefront of this trend, creating their own internal coding agents to streamline their processes. Examples include Stripe’s Minions, Ramp’s Inspect, and Coinbase’s Claudbot. These tools have enabled teams to automate repetitive tasks, enforce coding standards, and improve collaboration, resulting in faster development cycles and higher-quality code.

However, the adoption of AI agents is not limited to engineering teams. Non-engineering teams are also beginning to recognize the benefits of custom agents and are starting to create and utilize them in their own workflows. This Cambrian explosion of custom agents, tools, and software is reshaping the way teams operate across industries.

At Union Square Ventures (USV), we have been actively exploring the potential of AI agents and custom software to enhance our own work processes. Over the past three months, we have built and refined several internal agents that are tailored to our unique needs and work habits.

Our approach has been rooted in the principle of solving one problem at a time. By focusing on specific pain points and challenges, we have been able to create targeted solutions that have a meaningful impact on our productivity and efficiency. For instance, we have developed agents that automate repetitive tasks, such as data entry and report generation, freeing up time for our team members to focus on more strategic and creative endeavors.

In addition to automating tasks, we have also created agents that facilitate collaboration and communication within our teams. These tools enable seamless information sharing, real-time updates, and efficient decision-making, ensuring that everyone stays aligned and informed.

As we continue to build and refine our AI agents, we are learning that the key to success lies in understanding the unique needs and workflows of our teams. By designing agents that are truly customized to our specific contexts, we can create powerful tools that not only enhance our productivity but also foster a sense of ownership and engagement among our team members.

In essence, the story of Building 20 at MIT serves as a powerful reminder of the value of adaptability and customization in creating environments that foster innovation and productivity. By applying these principles to the realm of software and AI agents, we are witnessing a new wave of innovation that is transforming the way teams work and achieve their goals. At USV, we are at the forefront of this movement, continually exploring new ways to harness the power of technology to support our mission and drive meaningful impact.