“Anyone Can Code Now” - Netlify CEO Talks AI Agents - a16z Podcast Recap

Podcast: a16z Podcast

Published: 2026-01-30

Duration: 58 minutes

Guests: Matt Biilmann

Summary

Netlify's CEO, Matt Biilmann, discusses how AI has broadened the potential user base for coding tools from 17 million professional developers to 3 billion spreadsheet users. The episode explores the implications of AI in coding, deployment, and the changing economics of software development.

What Happened

Matt Biilmann, CEO of Netlify, discusses a significant uptick in Netlify's daily sign-ups, rising from 3,000 last year to 16,000. This surge is primarily driven by non-traditional developers like marketers and designers who are using AI tools like ChatGPT to inadvertently create React apps, necessitating deployment platforms like Netlify. He introduces the concept of 'agent experience' (AX), which refers to AI agents as primary users of development tools, indicating a shift in how these tools are used and perceived.

Biilmann highlights that 25% of users encountering errors immediately turn to language learning models (LLMs) for debugging, underscoring a shift in problem-solving approaches. The episode underscores how AI is democratizing coding, enabling more people to participate in software development, even without traditional coding skills. This has expanded the addressable market for developer tools to potentially 3 billion spreadsheet users, challenging existing software economics.

The conversation delves into how AI tools are reducing barriers to entry for building web apps and websites, with senior developers feeling like 'superheroes' due to increased productivity. Biilmann predicts a future where software development skills are as ubiquitous as writing, changing the landscape of job expectations across industries.

Netlify's growth is also attributed to the use of AI agents for longer stretches of autonomous work, leading to increased feature velocity. The company's strategy includes launching new products like the agent runner to facilitate code iteration before pull requests, reflecting a shift towards usage-based pricing models in software development.

Biilmann shares an example of a customer success manager using the Bold tool to create a high-performing event page, illustrating how non-developers are now capable of building production apps. The episode emphasizes that AI integration is becoming a cornerstone in the developer tool space, with companies like Superbase and Neon also focusing on working with AI agents.

The conversation concludes by reflecting on the changing consumption layer of the web, where AI is increasingly becoming a significant component. Biilmann sees this evolution as a rebirth of the web, with AI agents playing a central role in its transformation.

Key Insights