Commentary
What is changing in commerce, identity and advertising, and what it means for the agents doing the buying.
Apple just switched off the guessing layer
Safari now blocks cross-site identity matching by default. Every turn of that screw makes inferred intent more expensive and declared intent more valuable.
Richard Hobbs · 3 min readAre brands and retailers ready for agents?
Not yet, but we are here to help!
Richard Hobbs · 2 min readSalesforce just spent millions proving VIA right
(we are not for the 1%)
Richard Hobbs · 2 min readThe web is learning to block your best customers
While VIA welcomes them with open arms
Richard Hobbs · 3 min readLast week three banks announced the first agent payment. There was no agent in any of them.
We did it first!
Richard Hobbs · 2 min readThe publisher warning we keep ignoring
Don't stay beholden to big tech masquerading as content distributors - they can kill you!
Richard Hobbs · 3 min readCulture needs a back room
Articulating what I have been repeating for many years...
Richard Hobbs · 4 min readWhat’s the difference between A and E?
It’s not by accident, and it could be construed as an emergency.
Richard Hobbs · 3 min readI Asked AI to shop for me <insert clickbait>
The last question is the one that matters.
Richard Hobbs · 6 min readQ:What's less use than a chocolate teapot?
A: A busted funnel. An antiquated marketing tool that will soon become obsolete.
Richard Hobbs · 4 min readThe End of the Click
How Agents move power from platforms to intent
Richard Hobbs · 7 min readTURN THE VOLUME DOWN!
Why the loudest voices are losing, and what replaces them. From shouting for attention to listening for intention.
Richard Hobbs · 3 min readWhen the Internet Stops Making Sense: The Rise of Agentic Commerce and the Network of Next
From Overload to Autonomy and why Agents Are Becoming the New Interface of Life
Richard Hobbs · 7 min readThe Agents of Trust
November 2025
Richard Hobbs · 3 min read