What is agentic metadata?

Bill Doerrfeld | January 5, 2026

Agentic metadata: the valuable exhaust from AI agents

Like any production software application, AI agents are producing a spectrum of metadata behind the scenes. Some are calling agentic metadata a “gold mine” to direct continual improvements.


My latest deep dive for The New Stack explores the types of agentic metadata and how to put it to use. The article acts as a 101 primer for agentic metadata, defining the kinds of metadata AI agents actually produce, and which ones matter most. It also explores a handful of examples of how teams are already actively using this data in practice.


The results? It's not just about observability. Agentic metadata can be re-purposed for retraining, gradual improvements, optimizations, testing and debugging, auditing, informing software architecture, and more.


I definitely plan on keeping tabs on this area. For now, check out the post here for more information!

Read: Is Agentic Metadata the Next Infrastructure Layer?

Lessons learned from 6 overhyped tech trends

By Bill Doerrfeld • January 5, 2026
Blockchain for everything, metaverse, big data, NFTs... In hindsight, what were we thinking? Today, I call out some of tech's biggest overhyped trends on InfoWorld.

Build the machine that builds the machine

By Bill Doerrfeld • December 19, 2025
My latest DirectorPlus column with LeadDev interviews Bedrock Robotics' CTO, Kevin Peterson, on what it takes to develop highly adaptable and safe autonomous machines.

What makes a great tech conference abstract?

By Bill Doerrfeld • December 17, 2025
I explore some tips to help speakers craft solid pitches. The Nordic APIs speaker selection committee looks for these sorts of things, but the tips could apply to any tech event.

What will 2026 hold for AI and APIs?

By Bill Doerrfeld • December 11, 2025
I made 10 predictions on how AI and APIs will converge in 2026. Signs point to AI agents being the next big API consumer.
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Tap these 10 MCP servers to supercharge devops

By Bill Doerrfeld • December 8, 2025
My latest for InfoWorld breaks down 10 MCP servers powering next-gen devops workflows, from GitHub and Atlassian to AWS and Pulumi.
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MCP: What API providers need to know

By Bill Doerrfeld • December 2, 2025
Excited to share my talk from Nordic APIs' Platform Summit 2025. As the opening talk of the event, I wanted to address the elephant in the room head-on: MCP.
Panel discussion on stage with five speakers and audience in front of a blue screen with speaker names.

Platform Summit 2025 videos are live!

By Bill Doerrfeld • December 1, 2025
Watch all the great API talks, keynotes, and panel discussions from this year's Nordic APIs Platform Summit, now available on YouTube.
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Why open source is more than a technical strategy

By Bill Doerrfeld • November 28, 2025
Block's open source initiative is helping to build brand reputation, attract talent, boost partnerships, guide internal open source best practices, and aid long-term system reliability.
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How CIOs are getting an ROI from AI

By Bill Doerrfeld • November 26, 2025
Achieving ROI with AI requires a mix of strong leadership stewardship upfront, shifting the talent framework, and embedding proper monitoring and governance throughout the lifecycle.
Knowledge base for AI agents

How do you craft a great AI knowledge base?

By Bill Doerrfeld • November 24, 2025
I recently explored what goes into creating a solid AI agent knowledge base — from the types of data it should contain to the retrieval mechanisms and architecture patterns that support reliable agentic behavior.