I help companies understand how AI agents discover, interpret, and interact with their websites, content, products, and digital services — and how to stay in control.
My work combines more than two decades of technology analysis with hands-on experience building influential web products and publications.
“Anyone bringing Richard in as a consultant is getting someone who will think hard, work well with their team, and deliver something worth having.”
— Susan Mernit, founder of 5ive
Start with an Agent Experience Assessment
If you’re exploring how AI affects your website, product, or platform, I offer a structured:
👉 Agent Experience Assessment
An agent readiness assessment for websites, products, and digital surfaces
This is not an automated scan. It’s a hands-on assessment of how AI agents actually discover, interpret, and interact with your site, content, documentation, APIs, and product surfaces — combining technical testing with product and platform analysis.
You get a clear, actionable view of:
- how AI agents access, interpret, and use your site and product surfaces
- how you appear in tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini
- whether your content, docs, APIs, feeds, or workflows are agent-usable
- where the highest-impact opportunities are — and what to do next
In effect, this is a form of agent usability analysis — understanding how AI systems actually experience and use what you’ve built.
The assessment is designed as a focused, standalone engagement that delivers clear, actionable recommendations you can implement immediately.
Each assessment is conducted manually using a structured framework — not generated by software.
What happens next
If you’d like support implementing or expanding on the findings, I also work with teams on:
- Product strategy (AI & agent experience) — defining AI-native features, agent-facing capabilities, interaction models, and product surfaces
- Editorial product development — Building content-led products, platforms, publications, and AI-assisted editorial workflows
- AI & web analysis — Understanding how AI agents are changing the web ecosystem, developer platforms, digital publishing, and product strategy
These engagements range from short, defined projects to ongoing advisory.
Contact
If you’re interested in working together, or exploring how AI agents interact with your website, content, product, or platform, please fill in this form:
More about me
I’m Richard MacManus, a technology analyst and product strategist who has been building on the web for more than two decades.
I founded ReadWriteWeb, one of the most influential technology publications of the Web 2.0 era, growing it into a global media business. Later, I served as Senior Editor at The New Stack, where I expanded coverage into frontend development and AI.
My work focuses on how products, platforms, and content systems evolve — combining hands-on analysis with a deep understanding of web technologies in practice.
Today I advise on AI-driven web products and the emerging “Agentic Web,” with a focus on how AI agents interact with products, platforms, and content.
Testimonials
These are some of the consulting clients I have worked with:
“I worked with Richard MacManus at 5ive, my consulting company, over 20 years ago — and his work has stuck with me ever since. 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. His research and analysis were consistently strong, and the results he delivered reflected that quality. Beyond the work itself, Richard was a real collaborator — easy to think alongside, generous with his perspective, and focused on getting to the right answer rather than just the quick one. Watching his career unfold since then, from ReadWriteWeb to The New Stack and now into the agentic web space, it’s clear those qualities only deepened. Anyone bringing Richard in as a consultant is getting someone who will think hard, work well with their team, and deliver something worth having.”
— Susan Mernit, Founder and Partner, 5ive
“I’ve been a fan of Richard’s thinking and insights for a long time. As General Manager at GrowthOps, I engaged him to deliver an in-depth analysis of fintech and digital innovation in banking, alongside a report on email marketing strategy. He has a sharp ability to read how fast-moving technology landscapes are evolving and translate that into clear, practical insight that drives decisions. Richard is thorough, independent-minded, and a genuine pleasure to work with.”
— Peeyoosh Chandra, General Manager, GrowthOps
“Richard combined deep analysis of the RSS landscape with practical product development insight during our time at Nooked. He helped us understand not just the vendor ecosystem, but how to position and build within it. His ability to interpret how a new layer of the web is evolving — and translate that into real product decisions — is just as relevant today as the web shifts toward an AI-driven, agentic environment.”
— Fergus Burns, CEO, Nooked
“Richard is a excellent strategic thinker who applies deep industry experience with an ability to understand the startup process.”
— Martin Wells, CEO, Tangler
“Richard combines deep industry insight with an incisive and uncompromising intellect. Like his beloved All Blacks (and mine), he conceals his intense focus and many strengths under a relaxed and understated persona. Do not be deceived. Mr MacManus is a top player, with a phenomenal work rate, who adds value in any game.”
— Michael Bayler, Co-founder and Creative Director, The Rights Marketing Company
“In my research relating to wearable technology I came across Richard’s book Trackers which provided valuable insight into the future of ‘the quantified self’. I was impressed by Richard’s work and contacted him to provide additional research and analysis as a consultant relating to my specific technology. Richard was impressively prompt and professional and his expert insight and research have proven to be critical for development of my technology. I give my strongest recommendations for his work and reputation and will surely use his services in the future.”
— Brad Bacigalupi, President, 3V Enterprises