The Disappearing Web | The Post Web Audio Documentary Ep 01

Summary

This documentary explores the convergence of crypto and AI, proposing the idea of a 'Post Web'—a future internet where decentralized AI agents replace traditional web interfaces. It critiques Web 3’s failure to live up to its potential and envisions a new digital ecosystem where decentralized protocols enable machine-to-machine communication and autonomous task execution. With advancements in AI and blockchain, the documentary highlights how this new 'Post Web' could reshape the internet, unbundling the attention economy, and ushering in a world driven by intent-based architectures and decentralized intelligence.

Takeaways

• 😀 Web 3 has faced significant challenges in terms of adoption, with only 5% of the global population using crypto and just 1% of users engaging with DeFi or DApps.
• 😀 Despite its ambitious goals, Web 3 has failed to be user-friendly and is not yet practical for the average person to use, primarily due to lack of intuitive interfaces and complex functionality.
• 😀 AI and crypto, though developed separately, are becoming increasingly complementary technologies with the potential to revolutionize the internet.
• 😀 AI-powered meme coins are gaining popularity, demonstrating the convergence of AI and crypto as speculative fervor grows.
• 😀 The Post Web represents a shift from the current internet towards a decentralized, AI-driven world where machines handle tasks on behalf of users.
• 😀 Web 3's blockchain innovations may not directly improve user interfaces but rather serve as a foundational layer for machine-to-machine interaction and automation.
• 😀 The future of the internet may involve decentralized AI agents that can understand intent and autonomously perform tasks without human intervention.
• 😀 To unlock Web 3's full potential, AI technologies like Large Language Models (LLMs) will be needed to create more intuitive interfaces, while blockchain will handle backend execution.
• 😀 The convergence of blockchain and AI is leading to the development of Decentralized AI (DII), which offers new business models and opportunities in the emerging Post Web.
• 😀 As the internet transitions from the attention economy to the intention economy, the current models of search, advertising, and app stores will become obsolete.
• 😀 The convergence of AI and blockchain could lead to a new investment supercycle, driven by decentralized physical infrastructure and the hyper-financialization of real-world assets.

Q & A

What is the Post-Web, and how does it differ from previous iterations of the web?

The Post-Web represents a new phase of the internet, where decentralization (Web 3) and AI converge to create a more intuitive and agent-based system. Unlike earlier web models, which focus on human interaction and attention economy, the Post-Web is optimized for machines, enabling AI agents to perform tasks on behalf of users, thus changing the nature of interaction from attention-based to intention-based.

Why has Web 3 not had a significant impact on people's day-to-day lives?

Web 3 has struggled with adoption due to its complexity and lack of usability. Despite its promises of decentralization and user sovereignty, it remains difficult for the average person to use, which limits its real-world impact. This is attributed to the fact that its innovations are not necessarily about improving the web itself but about providing lower-order functionality that needs a more intuitive interface to be usable.

What role does AI play in the transition to the Post-Web?

AI is crucial in the Post-Web because it offers a more intuitive front-end interface for interacting with decentralized technologies. AI’s ability to handle complex tasks through intelligent agents makes decentralized applications more accessible and functional, allowing users to delegate tasks such as managing finances, booking travel, and more, to AI agents in a seamless manner.

What is meant by the 'attention economy,' and how does it relate to Web 2.0?

The attention economy refers to a business model where platforms capture and monetize users' attention by offering free services in exchange for advertising revenue. This model became dominant with Web 2.0, where the internet was shaped by social media and applications that thrived on user engagement. However, as the Post-Web emerges, this attention economy is expected to shift to an 'intention economy,' where users' goals and desires drive the value exchange.

What is the 'intention economy,' and how does it differ from the current attention economy?

The intention economy is a concept in the Post-Web where the value exchange is based on users' goals and needs rather than their attention. In this system, intelligent agents perform tasks according to user intent, making interactions more goal-oriented and personalized, unlike the current model where platforms are designed to maximize user engagement and data collection.

How does the convergence of AI and blockchain lead to the creation of Decentralized AI (DAI)?

The convergence of AI and blockchain leads to Decentralized AI (DAI) by combining AI’s capabilities for handling complex tasks with blockchain’s secure and decentralized infrastructure. This allows for the creation of intelligent agents that can execute tasks autonomously and securely on the blockchain, using smart contracts and decentralized protocols to ensure trust and transparency in machine-to-machine interactions.

What challenges remain in the development of the Post-Web and Decentralized AI?

The development of the Post-Web and Decentralized AI faces several challenges, including creating effective communication between AI agents, ensuring security and privacy in machine-to-machine interactions, and building scalable decentralized networks. Additionally, there is the challenge of creating user-friendly interfaces and ensuring that these technologies remain adaptable and trustworthy.

How do decentralized protocols, like blockchain, contribute to the functionality of the Post-Web?

Decentralized protocols like blockchain provide the infrastructure for secure, trustless transactions and interactions within the Post-Web. They enable users to own and control their digital assets, while also facilitating machine-to-machine economic exchanges, which are central to the decentralized and agent-driven nature of the new internet model.

What is the significance of intelligent agents in the future internet, and how do they work?

Intelligent agents are crucial to the future internet because they can autonomously carry out tasks based on user intent. They use AI to process information and blockchain to execute transactions. These agents can perform complex tasks—like booking flights or managing finances—without the need for traditional apps or websites, making the internet more efficient and personalized.

What is the potential impact of Decentralized AI on current internet business models?

Decentralized AI has the potential to radically alter current internet business models by eliminating the need for traditional advertising and attention-based monetization strategies. Instead of relying on user attention for profit, businesses could operate in a more intention-driven economy, where services are tailored to specific user needs and provided by intelligent agents working autonomously on behalf of consumers.