Getting Ready for Agentic AISKIP TO CONTENTHarvard Business Review LogoHarvard Business Review LogoGenerative AI|Getting Ready for Agentic AISubscribeSign InLatestMagazineTopicsPodcastsStoreReading ListsData & VisualsCase SelectionsHBR ExecutiveSearch hbr.orgSubscribeLatestPodcastsThe MagazineStoreWebinarsNewslettersAll TopicsReading ListsData & VisualsCase SelectionsHBR ExecutiveMy LibraryAccount SettingsSign InExplore HBRLatestThe MagazinePodcastsStoreWebinarsNewslettersPopular TopicsManaging YourselfLeadershipStrategyManaging TeamsGenderInnovationWork-life BalanceAll TopicsFor SubscribersReading ListsData & VisualsCase SelectionsHBR ExecutiveSubscribeMy AccountMy LibraryTopic FeedsOrdersAccount SettingsEmail PreferencesSign InHarvard Business Review LogoExecutive LiveGetting Ready for Agentic AIAn HBR Executive Live conversation with Pinterest CEO Bill Ready. by Adi IgnatiusMarch 25, 2026Summary.   Leer en españolLer em portuguêsPostPostShareSavePrintWhat if social media didn’t have to run on outrage to succeed? That’s a question on the mind of Bill Ready, CEO of Pinterest, who is on a mission to reorient the platform away from the attention-maximizing algorithms that have fueled toxicity across the industry, and toward a model rooted in positivity, utility, and user well-being.Read more on Generative AI or related topics AI and machine learning, Leadership and managing people and LeadershipAdi Ignatius is the editor at large at Harvard Business Review and its former editor in chief.PostPostShareSavePrintRead more on Generative AI or related topics AI and machine learning, Leadership and managing people and LeadershipSubscribe to HBR ExecutiveHBR Executive delivers trusted insights and actionable strategies to guide leaders through consequential decisions. Practical tools, and forward-looking perspectives cut through the noise to equip you to navigate uncertainty, stay ahead of emerging trends, and plan for a stable future.Exclusive BenefitsPlaybooksConcrete strategies, tactics, and solutions to real challenges from your peers and other experts. Published every 2 weeks. All Playbooks (Opens a new page)MasterclassesOn-demand sessions with top experts to help you strengthen your leadership. Posted every 2 weeks. All Masterclasses (Opens a new page)AgendaA weekly newsletter of timely insights that interpret today's business climate and help you chart a path to what's next. All Agenda (Opens a new page)LiveMonthly candid conversations with top business thinkers on topics you care about. All Live Sessions (Opens a new page)The Strategy LabAn AI-powered platform purpose-built to help C-suite leaders develop, communicate, and align their business strategies. Explore The Strategy Lab (Opens a new page)Customer ServiceExecutive For Your TeamOther SubscriptionsPartner CenterStart my subscription!Explore HBRThe LatestAll TopicsMagazine ArchiveReading ListsCase SelectionsHBR ExecutivePodcastsWebinarsData & VisualsMy LibraryNewslettersHBR PressHBR StoreArticle ReprintsBooksCasesCollectionsMagazine IssuesHBR Guide SeriesHBR 20-Minute ManagersHBR Emotional Intelligence SeriesHBR Must ReadsToolsAbout HBRContact UsAdvertise with UsInformation for Booksellers/RetailersMastheadGlobal EditionsMedia InquiriesGuidelines for AuthorsHBR Analytic ServicesCopyright PermissionsAccessibilityDigital AccessibilityManage My AccountMy LibraryTopic FeedsOrdersAccount SettingsEmail PreferencesHelp CenterContact Customer ServiceExplore HBRThe LatestAll TopicsMagazine ArchiveReading ListsCase SelectionsHBR ExecutivePodcastsWebinarsData & VisualsMy LibraryNewslettersHBR PressHBR StoreArticle ReprintsBooksCasesCollectionsMagazine IssuesHBR Guide SeriesHBR 20-Minute ManagersHBR Emotional Intelligence SeriesHBR Must ReadsToolsAbout HBRContact UsAdvertise with UsInformation for Booksellers/RetailersMastheadGlobal EditionsMedia InquiriesGuidelines for AuthorsHBR Analytic ServicesCopyright PermissionsAccessibilityDigital AccessibilityManage My AccountMy LibraryTopic FeedsOrdersAccount SettingsEmail PreferencesHelp CenterContact Customer ServiceFollow HBRFacebookX Corp.LinkedInInstagramYour NewsreaderHarvard Business Review LogoAbout UsCareersPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyCopyright InformationTrademark PolicyTerms of UseHarvard Business Publishing:Higher EducationCorporate LearningHarvard Business ReviewHarvard Business SchoolCopyright ©2026 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

Bill Ready, CEO of Pinterest, presented a compelling argument for a fundamental shift in the social media landscape during a recent HBR Executive Live conversation, advocating for a move away from algorithms designed to maximize attention and toward a model centered on positivity, utility, and user well-being. This shift represents a direct challenge to the prevailing business model of many social media platforms, which, according to Ready, has become inextricably linked with generating outrage and fostering toxicity. Ready’s perspective underscores a critical reassessment of the ethical and operational implications of algorithmic design within the digital sphere.

The core of Ready’s vision lies in reorienting Pinterest’s technology to prioritize user value rather than engagement metrics. He posits that the current system’s emphasis on triggering emotional responses—often negative—is demonstrably detrimental to both users and the platform itself. The drive for maximizing attention, as he describes it, has inadvertently created an environment prone to misinformation, harmful comparisons, and overall decreased well-being for users. Ready believes that by fundamentally altering the algorithms to favor genuinely useful and uplifting content, Pinterest can foster a more productive and positive experience.

Ready's approach, however, isn't solely about content selection; it’s fundamentally about agency. He speaks of moving toward an “agentic AI,” implying a system where AI supports user goals and provides assistance, rather than manipulating behavior or dictating content consumption. This concept highlights a growing concern within the tech industry regarding the potentially manipulative nature of increasingly sophisticated AI algorithms. The “agentic” designation suggests a future where AI acts as a facilitator—empowering users to achieve their desired outcomes—rather than a driver of passive consumption or reactive responses.

The HBR Executive subscription offers tangible benefits to subscribers, including access to “Playbooks” – concrete strategies and solutions to real-world challenges, “Masterclasses” featuring insights from top leadership experts, and “Agenda” – a weekly newsletter analyzing the business landscape. Notably, the inclusion of "The Strategy Lab," an AI-powered platform, demonstrates a further commitment to providing C-suite leaders with tools for strategic planning and alignment, particularly relevant in a rapidly evolving technological environment dominated by AI.

Ultimately, Ready’s interview with Adi Ignatius serves as a provocative call to action, urging industry leaders to consider the long-term consequences of their choices and to prioritize human well-being alongside profit and engagement. The shift toward a “agentic AI” represents a potential paradigm shift within the technology sector, demanding a renewed focus on ethical design and a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between technology and human behavior.