[simonw]

Right - the term "user-agent" shows up in the HTTP/1.0 spec from 1996: https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc1945 and there's plenty of history of debates about the meaning of the term before then.

In 1994 people were already complaining that the term that had no universal agreed definition: https://simonwillison.net/2024/Oct/12/michael-wooldridge/

[mindcrime]

Yes. I am fond of saying "If you're talking about agents and think the term is something new, go back and read everything Michael Wooldridge ever wrote before talking any further". :-)