Unlocking AI Potential: How 2025 Mirrors 1995’s Internet Revolution in Building Effective Agents
Sitting down with Jason Burke on the PROMPTED: Builder Stories podcast felt more like a delightful exploration than just another interview. Jason, the founder of All Stage, an innovative InvestTech platform dedicated to enhancing early-stage investing and fundraising, shares valuable insights shaped by his extensive experience as a product thinker. He thrives on observing how people interact with technology, pinpointing friction points, and discovering ways to streamline processes.
What sets Jason apart is his focus on practicality over novelty. His approach is rooted in building tools that offer genuine utility rather than simply riding the AI wave.
A Unique Perspective on AI
Jason describes his motivation for developing AI agents as “selfish.” His dual identity as both a product builder and an investor drives him to dig deeper into understanding what these agents truly are and how they can be harnessed effectively. To engage in meaningful discussions about AI, he knew he had to become fluent in its terminology. Moreover, his hands-on experimentation allowed him to grasp the concept far beyond surface-level understanding.
This unique position affords him profound insights into the excitement and skepticism surrounding AI technologies. He recognizes the operational realities that separate genuinely useful tools from mere novelties.
His journey took a deeper turn when he began experimenting with Agent.ai. What initially started as a curiosity evolved into a pivotal component of his approach to product development, workflow management, and decision-making.
Defining an AI Agent
Jason offers a straightforward yet robust definition of what constitutes an AI agent. At its essence, an agent is a software capability designed to leverage multiple tools to accomplish a specific task. This emphasis on utility shifts the dialogue from buzzwords to practical application.
AI agents extend beyond simple chat interfaces. They are intricate systems capable of gathering information, analyzing data, connecting with other tools, and delivering results that would otherwise demand considerable manual effort. This understanding informs every tool Jason develops.
Within All Stage, these agents assist both founders and investors by:
- Analyzing investment opportunities
- Understanding market dynamics
- Identifying competitive landscapes
- Anticipating common diligence inquiries
Traditionally, these tasks could consume weeks of research; with AI agents, they can be achieved in mere minutes. The ultimate objective isn’t to supplant human intuition but rather to minimize cognitive load and opportunity cost, allowing individuals to focus on high-level strategic thinking.
Transforming Early-Stage Investing
A recurring theme in Jason’s narrative is the stagnation present in early-stage investing workflows. Founders often find themselves mired in rigid pitch decks and cumbersome processes, describing the experience as a necessary evil.
Having lived both sides of the coin, Jason witnessed firsthand the colossal waste of time and energy in preparing materials and managing repetitive inquiries. This realization became the spark that ignited All Stage.
By integrating AI agents into his platform, Jason introduced previously impractical capabilities. These agents enable more in-depth data analyses, unearth insights that may elude human understanding, and prepare founders for pivotal conversations.
The feedback from users has been overwhelmingly positive, with entrepreneurs consistently highlighting time savings as their most significant gain. In the startup ecosystem, time is often the most valuable currency, and anything that can reclaim it is immensely impactful.
Navigating Trust and Risk
Not all tasks assigned to agents carry equivalent levels of risk. Some are simply informational, while others involve decision-making that demands higher confidence levels.
Recognizing this spectrum is crucial for developers. As of now, many agents excel in analysis and preparation, but over time, with increased trust and improved systems, these agents are expected to engage in more autonomous actions—albeit with intention.
Jason firmly believes in the importance of maintaining humans in the loop, particularly for high-stakes decisions. The goal is for agents to enhance human thought processes, not replace them, as this balance is key to sustainable innovation.
The New Era of Builders
Looking ahead, Jason is filled with optimism. He perceives a rapid decline in the technical barriers that once hindered the creation of AI agents. Tasks that previously demanded extensive engineering know-how can now be tackled by enthusiastic and motivated individuals.
This shift democratizes the building landscape, inviting product managers, operators, founders, and even young creators to develop tools that enhance their lives and work. The main limiting factor has shifted to imagination and the courage to experiment.
His encouraging advice? “Do not wait.” Don’t expect perfection from your tools right away. Start building now, even if your initial efforts are rudimentary. The real learning comes from the journey of doing.
As you embark on your own path of exploration and creation, remember that every great innovation begins with a single step. Embrace your creativity, trust the process, and make the most of the tools at your disposal.
