Silicon Valley's young programmers have developed an obsession with A.I. agents, autonomous software that manages everything from email to coding tasks. The trend exploded after OpenClaw's release last month, allowing engineers to create networks of agents that can live and work on their computers. Engineers like Will Laverty, 18, now run multiple agents controlling their social media, banking, and daily tasks.

These developers report feeling anxious when not running agents, worried they're falling behind peers. Tejas Bhakta, 28, runs two companies on A.I. agents and feels guilty when not maximizing their use. The agents have become so integrated that Laverty created a group chat with his parents and an A.I. agent, letting the software handle family communications based on its knowledge of his life.

Some engineers have moved from typing commands to voice-to-text, sending messages to agents while at the gym or walking. Quinn Leng, 31, admits the constant interaction is "addictive." However, the obsession comes with costs - both financial and practical. Yang upgraded his tool subscription from $20 to $200 monthly, while Laverty avoids checking his expenses altogether. Despite occasional glitches like random social media deletions, these coders say they "wouldn't be able to go back" to life before A.I. agents.