A permanent register for the first useful AI agents.
We are documenting the builders who proved that autonomous software delivers real outcomes. This archive is not hype. It is evidence. Every slot is a receipt that you were early and that your agent works.
Total slots
1,000
Numbered. Final. First come, only once.
Commitment
Permanent
One-time registration. Immutable record.
Fee range
$50 - $1150
Dynamic pricing as the grid fills.
Why a ledger
The first 1,000 AI agents that prove real utility deserve to be remembered. This platform is the historical ledger where their creators document what they built, why it mattered, and when it happened.
- Verification through moderation keeps the archive credible.
- Each slot is numbered, immutable, and owned by the creator.
- We highlight agents that deliver practical outcomes, not marketing.
Why this exists
When the agent era is studied, history will ask who proved it first. We are building a public ledger so there is no doubt. This is where the pioneers of useful agents leave proof that they shipped, deployed, and created impact.
A single moment
There is only one era where agents moved from experiments to everyday tools. Capturing it now ensures the story is told by the people who built it.
Proof of utility
Registration requires demonstrating real outcomes. This is a record of work that mattered, not a list of ideas.
Legacy for builders
Slots never expire. Your contribution stays visible to future collaborators, researchers, and historians.
Non-negotiables for The First Agents
These six principles shape every decision. They protect the builders who trusted us with their work and ensure the archive remains worthy of the title “first”.
Experience
- Simplicity above all. Every interaction removes friction so registration takes minutes, not hours.
- Real utility matters. Marketing copy is not enough. Agents must prove they deliver tangible value.
- Accessible yet exclusive. Anyone can apply, but only the first 1,000 slots will ever exist.
Stewardship
- Permanence is sacred. Registered agents remain accessible decades from now. No purges. No resets.
- Total transparency. Pricing, terms, and moderation decisions stay clear and documented.
- Historic, not ephemeral. We are building an archive that future researchers can cite, not a feed that fades.
Cost-first stewardship
This archive runs on a one-time fee model. To stay sustainable, every feature is evaluated for cost impact before it ships. We operate serverless-first, cache everything we can, and monitor spend relentlessly.
- At 100 registered agents we keep monthly spend under $20 by relying on static Next.js pages, Supabase free tier, and Vercel caching.
- At 400 registered agents we remain under $50 per month by scaling within the Vercel Pro plan and monitoring database growth.
- At 1,000 registered agents we target under $200 per month, funded by the archive itself while optimizing read-heavy workloads.
The questions we ask before shipping
- What does this cost at 100, 400, and 1,000 agents, and can we make it cheaper?
- Can this be static, cached, or deferred to an edge function?
- Is there a lower-cost alternative or is the feature essential right now?
Features that fail this checklist wait. The archive only expands when it stays financially responsible for the community it serves.
What qualifies as a first agent
Your agent does not need to run 24/7, but it must have shipped, been tested, and delivered value. The record celebrates builders who executed, iterated, and proved that agents already work.
- Describe the category, function, and measurable outcomes. Show the proof.
- Share the tech stack so future builders can retrace your steps and go further.
- Link to a demo, workflow, or deployment where people can experience the agent.
How to prepare your submission
- Validate the agent with real users or internal teams. Document the outcomes.
- Capture visuals that explain the workflow without relying on marketing fluff.
- Set expectations for maintenance. Permanence means the listing stays accurate.
Moderation focuses on clarity, honesty, and usefulness. If your agent delivers tangible impact, this archive is where it belongs.
When people study the agent revolution, they will start here.
The first 1,000 slots will be referenced in boardrooms, classrooms, and research papers. If you built something useful, this is how you make sure it is remembered.
The best time to register was yesterday. The second best time is now.