I’m an independent analyst and advisor focused on the agentic web: the shift from websites built mainly for humans to digital products that also need to work with AI agents.
I publish Agentic Web News, a briefing and interview series covering the companies, standards and products shaping this emerging market.
My work builds on more than two decades as a web analyst, product strategist and journalist — from founding ReadWriteWeb to consulting for startups, media companies and technology firms.
Today, I help organisations understand the practical gaps, risks and opportunities created by the agentic web, and decide what to do next.
“Richard brought a level of analytical rigor that was rare: he didn’t just gather information, he made sense of it in ways that were genuinely useful and actionable.”
— Susan Mernit, founder of 5ive, a consultancy I’ve worked with
Start with an Agent Readiness Assessment
If you want to understand how AI agents actually experience your website, content, product, or platform, I offer a structured:
This is a hands-on, non-automated analysis of how AI agents and AI systems:
- discover and access your content
- interpret its structure and meaning
- retrieve, summarize, compare, and cite your information
- use your site, documentation, APIs, or product surfaces to complete tasks
- represent you in tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini
In effect, this is a form of agent usability analysis — understanding how AI systems experience and use your site, content, and product surfaces.
How I help
I work with organizations at different stages — from early ideas to established platforms — helping them design products, structure content, and adapt their systems for AI agents.
- Assess agent readiness: Understand how AI agents discover, interpret, and use your website, content, docs, APIs, and product surfaces.
- Shape AI-driven products: Define how AI fits into your product — including agent-based interfaces, AI-native workflows, and agent-facing capabilities.
- Launch and grow editorial products: Act as a founding editor or strategic advisor for content-led products, publications, and AI-assisted editorial workflows.
- Make sense of the AI/web landscape: Provide clear, practical insight into how AI is changing the web, developer platforms, digital publishing, and product strategy.
Selected experience
- Founder, ReadWriteWeb (2003–2012)
- Senior Editor, The New Stack (2020–2026)
- 20+ years analyzing web technologies, platforms, and digital media
- Advisor and consultant to technology companies and media organizations
Book
My latest book, Bubble Blog, is a memoir of building ReadWriteWeb and experiencing firsthand the technological shifts that defined Web 2.0.
- Paperback, US$19.99: Amazon | Bookshop.org
- eBook, US$9.99: Amazon Kindle Store | Apple Books | Google Play
Originally from New Zealand 🥝 I’m now based in the UK 🇬🇧