AI Agents Should Never Touch the Public Internet | Zachary Smith, Co-Founder & CEO, Datum

In this episode, Zachary Smith, CEO and co-founder of Datum and previously the founder of Packet (acquired by Equinix for $335M) and Voxel (acquired for $35M), joins Liam to explain why the internet is about to undergo its biggest transformation since the cloud. As AI agents, vibe coding, and thousands of new applications flood the web, Zac believes the open internet model we've relied on for decades is breaking down.

Zac argues that every person, every company, and eventually every AI agent will need its own private network. He explains why the future internet may look more like the Visa network than today's public web, how digital sovereignty and geopolitics are reshaping infrastructure, and why developers are increasingly relying on dozens of cloud services rather than just the hyperscalers.

The conversation also dives into Zac's unlikely journey from Juilliard-trained musician to building and exiting two infrastructure companies, the emotional toll of entrepreneurship, and why he keeps coming back to startups despite already having financial freedom.

Key Topics Covered

Zach's journey from Juilliard and classical music to building infrastructure companies

Building Voxel and selling the company for $35M

Starting Packet and its $335M acquisition by Equinix

Why AI agents are creating a security problem for the internet

Why every person and company may eventually need a private network

The difference between the public internet and private internet

Why the future internet could resemble the Visa network

Digital sovereignty, geopolitics, and the splintering of the internet