Great article on a timely topic. The only point I think Nilay didn’t fully address is the specific impact on Amazon Marketplace. Amazon often takes half or more of the revenue from those sales, which helps sustain its “one-stop shop” dominance.
With agents, however, that marketplace advantage disappears—the agent effectively creates a dynamic marketplace on demand. It’s also worth noting the ongoing U.S. DOJ antitrust case against Amazon Marketplace, which could tie directly into this discussion.
The problems with the Chrome store are likely not over. What good is it if you have to stir up half the internet to get through their process?
It's not as if developers can go to other platforms since Chrome has 70% of the market. Most of us in tech are in it to innovate and disrupt but hard to do that if everything is a Google or Amazon monopoly.
If Chrome is broken then the browser market is broken. Devs should organize to solve this since Google doesn't seem to be paying attention.
We need to collect and organize feedback from those experiencing problems which is everyone. Get it to antitrust folks in the EU and DOJ to start an investigation (to add to their other investigations). If Google knows the EU and Feds are watching, they might start behaving.
Totally had the same experience. Ordered Starbucks and they forgot the coffee. Was 3rd order in a row that was messed up. It's a cluster of mismanagement over there.
With agents, however, that marketplace advantage disappears—the agent effectively creates a dynamic marketplace on demand. It’s also worth noting the ongoing U.S. DOJ antitrust case against Amazon Marketplace, which could tie directly into this discussion.