Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder and CEO of Paytm, made a bold technological prediction, stating that 2027 will mark the 'mass adoption' of artificial intelligence. He forecasts a paradigm shift where autonomous AI agents will replace applications as the primary means for humans to interact with computing technology.
In his post on X, the fintech founder described a vision in which the era of tapping smartphone screens and clicking desktop software will give way to highly efficient personal assistants integrated directly into device operating systems.
He wrote: 'By the end of 2026, we will have superpowered AI assistants—personal agents that are irresistibly good at performing all the tasks we do on phones and computers.' Sharma added that in 2027, companies and organizations will begin actively deploying such agents, similar to how they launched websites and apps in the early days of the internet and mobile internet.
Sharma noted that just as touch replaced clicks on web pages on desktop computers during the mobile internet wave in the 2010s, AI agents will displace the existing app ecosystem. Instead of switching between various programs to complete tasks, ordinary users will delegate complex multi-step workflows to personal digital agents.
Sharma speculated that Apple will announce OS access to trusted agents, similar to how it allowed other apps to manage calls or spam. He also stated that Android will be forced to open up and grant third-party agents the same level of access as Gemini.
Beyond changes in hardware and software, Sharma sees a fundamental shift in user self-identity. He believes that just as we are identified today by phone number, email, or social media handle, we will have our own agents interacting with the surrounding agentic world.
'2027 will be the mass adoption of AI,' Sharma emphasized. '2026 will solidify machines' leadership in code generation over programmers. And we will begin our journey toward AGI.'