Notion Launches ‘Agentic’ Test to Gauge Users’ Readiness for the AI Era

Notion’s new “Agentic” assessment is more than a marketing gimmick; it reflects a concrete shift in how the company—and the broader tech ecosystem—measure employee value. According to Wired, the test is designed to identify users who can “harness” AI coding agents, a skill that co‑founder and COO Akshay Kothari says is rapidly becoming the most important competency in software development. Kothari argues that today’s AI agents “might already be more capable than all three of us here in the room,” positioning agency as the last uniquely human advantage once AI can replicate taste and style. The assessment therefore asks users to demonstrate not just familiarity with tools like Claude Code or Codex, but the ability to orchestrate multiple agents simultaneously without succumbing to “context overload,” a term coined by Notion co‑founder Simon Last to describe the mental strain of juggling too many autonomous assistants.

Last’s own workflow provides a vivid case study. Wired reports that he routinely runs up to four AI coding agents at once, preferring Codex over Claude Code, and experiences “token anxiety” when the agents are idle—even while he sleeps. He likens his role to that of a “super IC” who manages agents rather than people, delegating tasks, reviewing output, and correcting errors in real time. “Knowing how to harness these agents is now the most important skill in the world, and it’s not really something you can train for,” Last told Wired. The implication for hiring is stark: Notion is now looking for a handful of “Simons” who can operate at this high‑agency level, rather than scaling up a large engineering staff. Kothari confirms this strategy, noting that the company is “busier than ever” despite the automation of routine work, and that product velocity has increased as a result of the new workflow.

The assessment also signals Notion’s broader stance on AI adoption. While many firms are cutting headcount in response to automation, Notion is expanding its talent pool in a targeted way. Kothari told Wired that the firm “isn’t downsizing its team because of AI, but it is hiring differently,” emphasizing the need for employees who “understand the new way of working.” This mirrors a trend highlighted in a recent Gallup survey referenced by Wired, which found that the majority of American workers still use AI sparingly in their jobs. Notion’s approach therefore positions it at the vanguard of a workforce transformation that could leave most of the labor market behind until AI agents become broadly useful across non‑technical domains.

Industry observers see Notion’s move as part of a larger arms race for AI‑driven productivity. Anthropic, for example, recently announced an AI agent capable of controlling a user’s computer, a development covered by Wired that underscores how quickly the line between assistant and autonomous operator is blurring. Meanwhile, TechCrunch’s “AI Disruptors 60” list includes several startups focused on embedding agents into everyday workflows, suggesting that Notion’s “Agentic” test could become a de‑facto benchmark for talent in the emerging AI‑first economy. The test’s emphasis on curiosity, open‑mindedness, and a willingness to experiment aligns with the traits that investors and founders alike have identified as differentiators in a market where the speed of adoption often outpaces the supply of skilled practitioners.

Critics caution that the focus on agency may overlook deeper questions about the future of work. A viral Harper’s essay, cited by Wired, argues that the pursuit of “agentic” status can devolve into a relentless chase for online attention rather than genuine productivity. Nonetheless, Notion’s leadership remains convinced that the ability to direct AI agents will be the primary lever of value creation. As Kothari put it, “Eventually, the only thing left for humans is agency.” If the company’s internal metrics—higher shipping velocity and expanded product scope—are any indication, the gamble appears to be paying off, at least for now.