{"version":1,"type":"story","url":"https://digestai.news/story/microsoft-exec-warns-ai-agents-will-erode-app-pricing-power","json":"https://digestai.news/story/microsoft-exec-warns-ai-agents-will-erode-app-pricing-power.json","markdown":"https://digestai.news/story/microsoft-exec-warns-ai-agents-will-erode-app-pricing-power.md","slug":"microsoft-exec-warns-ai-agents-will-erode-app-pricing-power","headline":"Microsoft exec warns AI agents will erode app pricing power","summary":"Charles Lamanna, Microsoft exec overseeing Microsoft 365 and Copilot, said most business software will end up running behind AI agents rather than in front of users. He explained that when an agent interacts with an app, the agent is the customer, not the end user. Agents will choose the cheapest, fastest, most reliable services and move users quickly, making it hard for apps to hold pricing power or loyalty.\n\nLamanna split software into thick and thin apps. Thick apps are core work tools like CAD, contact‑center software, or Excel for full‑time financial modelers. Thin apps are drop‑in tools that most people leave. He said most business software is thin and will run headless, with assistants like Copilot and ChatGPT doing the work behind the scenes. Microsoft’s own Office apps will still exist but will be used inside Copilot, which can run Office without switching apps. He noted that Copilot pulls data from services such as Salesforce and ServiceNow via connectors.\n\nLamanna referenced Amazon’s recent actions: blocking Meta’s Muse agent and fighting Perplexity over Comet, while opening seller tools to Anthropic’s Claude. He said Amazon is open to agents on its own terms. He also mentioned that Microsoft’s Copilot depends on other companies’ software being willing to work behind it.","keyPoints":["Microsoft exec Charles Lamanna says AI agents will become customers of apps, squeezing pricing power.","Most business software will run behind agents like Copilot, making apps “headless”.","Amazon blocked Meta’s Muse agent, opened seller tools to Anthropic’s Claude, showing mixed stance on agents."],"whyItMatters":"The shift to agent‑driven interfaces could reduce pricing power for many business software vendors, forcing them to compete on speed, reliability, and integration. It also signals that major platforms like Amazon are actively shaping how agents can access services, influencing the future of enterprise software ecosystems.","category":{"slug":"agents","name":"Agents & Tools","url":"https://digestai.news/category/agents"},"entities":{"companies":["Microsoft","Amazon","Meta","Anthropic","Salesforce","ServiceNow"],"models":["Copilot","Muse","Claude","Comet"],"people":["Charles Lamanna","Matt McIlwain"]},"firstPublishedAt":"2026-09-30T03:48:00Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-30T03:48:00Z","sourceCount":1,"hasPrimarySource":false,"sources":[{"outlet":"geekwire.com","title":"‘Agents are very harsh customers’: Microsoft exec warns many apps will lose pricing leverage","url":"https://geekwire.com/2026/agents-are-very-harsh-customers-microsoft-exec-warns-many-apps-will-lose-pricing-leverage","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T03:48:00Z","type":"press","primary":false,"lead":true}],"sourceNotes":null,"discussions":[],"thread":null,"cite":{"text":"Digest AI, \"Microsoft exec warns AI agents will erode app pricing power\", 30 September 2026, https://digestai.news/story/microsoft-exec-warns-ai-agents-will-erode-app-pricing-power","publisher":"Digest AI","title":"Microsoft exec warns AI agents will erode app pricing power","datePublished":"2026-09-30T03:48:00Z","url":"https://digestai.news/story/microsoft-exec-warns-ai-agents-will-erode-app-pricing-power"},"generatedBy":"Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record.","license":"Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse"}