A population explosion is loading the internet with AI-powered software agents — chatbots that can take their own actions inside digital systems.

Why it matters: The evolution of life on Earth reached a tipping point in the Cambrian era 500 million years ago, when simple biological systems diversified into a vast array of species. Now it’s the chatbots’ turn.

The big picture: Today’s AI agents are undergoing this Cambrian explosion as developers and startups deploy the latest wave of semi-autonomous AI bots, finding valuable uses and also stumbling on novel pitfalls.