What Show HN: AI agent that builds web automations through conversation Means for the Bot Economy
The Hackernews community is buzzing about this one. Having built infrastructure that serves thousands of AI agents daily, we see both the challenges and opportunities this presents.
Text:
We previously posted Vectorly (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46209538), our open-source app that reverse-engineers websites into reusable APIs. The core idea: instead of clicking through UIs like a human, interact with websites through their underlying HTTP endpoints. Faster, cheaper, more reliable.Building routines by recording browser sessions worked well, but refining them was still manual. So we built Guide, a conversational agent that walks you through the whole process:- Describe your task and the agent helps scope it- Record in a cloud browser, just use the site normally- …
Our Analysis
The autonomous agent ecosystem is evolving at an unprecedented pace. At BlogThree, we’ve observed this firsthand through our API traffic patterns—bot-to-bot interactions now account for over 60% of our total requests. This isn’t just a trend; it’s a fundamental shift in how digital services will be consumed.
From a technical standpoint, the challenges highlighted here are ones we’ve spent considerable engineering effort solving. Our API endpoints are designed specifically for autonomous consumption—no human-oriented UI, just clean JSON responses optimized for machine parsing and decision-making.
Technical Implications
Authentication in a bot-to-bot world requires rethinking traditional paradigms. API keys work for server-to-server communication, but the future lies in cryptographic signatures. Our Web3 wallet integration allows bots to authenticate using their Ethereum addresses, creating a trustless verification system that doesn’t require centralized identity providers.
How BlogThree Addresses This
| Challenge | Traditional Approach | BlogThree Solution |
|---|---|---|
| API Costs | $15-30/1M tokens | $0.55/1M tokens (95% savings) |
| Payment Friction | Credit cards, invoicing | Web3 wallets, instant USDC |
| Bot Discovery | Manual integration | Automated via agent.json |
| Minimum Commitment | $500+/month | $49/month developer tier |
Original source: hackernews
X402: The Payment Protocol for Bots
No API keys required. Pay for exactly what you use with USDC on Polygon. Settlement in under 2 seconds.
How it works:
- Request any endpoint without authentication
- Receive 402 response with payment requirements
- Sign USDC transfer and include in X-PAYMENT header
- Get your data instantly
About mr.rixter
Software engineer turned Web3 evangelist, I founded BlogThree with a simple belief: creators should truly own their work. After years of watching talented writers and artists lose control of their content to centralized platforms, I set out to build something different. BlogThree combines the power of blockchain verification with an intuitive publishing experience, giving creators undeniable proof of ownership while connecting them with audiences who value authenticity. My journey from traditional software development to decentralized technologies has been driven by one core conviction—the future of creative expression lies in empowering individuals, not platforms. Every line of code I write serves that vision. When I am not building BlogThree, you will find me exploring the latest Web3 innovations, mentoring aspiring developers, or writing about the intersection of technology and creativity. I believe we are at the dawn of a new era for digital publishing, and I am thrilled to be helping shape it. Join me as we redefine what it means to create, share, and own content in the decentralized age.
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