A Background
The World Wide Web or the “web” as we know it today has been around for a while. It was first created in 1989 by a man named Sir Tim Berners-Lee. This ‘web’ was the link, and the user interface, to the Internet. It allowed users to access vast amounts of information and interact with it. This stage of the web is now known as Web 1.0. It was extremely rudimentary. Allowing its users to have minimal interaction with the internet and having a very simplistic design. There were many static web pages, and not designed for social interaction and the passing of information from user to user, but from server to user. This version of the web was predominantly a read-only web. This lasted until around 2004 to 2005.
Slightly prior to 2004, in 1999, Web 2.0 began to appear. This allowed users to interact with the web. They could not only read but they were now allowed to write. Users could generate content for other users to view, so the collective intelligence quickly increased. Not only was there an increase in information, but there was also an increase in accessibility and usability. User interfaces became much more user-friendly. They were interactive, allowing for dynamic learning. Different forms of media could be posted and created room for discussion boards, document editors, and blog websites such as this one. It opened the web to the way that we know it today. However, over previous years, there have been rumblings of a new web. Web 3.0.
Web 3.0 Overview
This version of the web is highly debated and experimental at this current time. However, it was first “coined by John Markoff in 2006” (znetlive). So, the idea has been around for a long time, but we are closer than ever to being able to make it a reality. It is designed to further connectivity. Crafted specifically for general AI, metaverse, data mining, and many other technologies. There are four main characteristics. These characteristics are that it will be decentralized, trustless and permissionless, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and connectivity and ubiquity. The idea of being decentralized simply means that information will be difficult to be tampered with and the information will be widespread, not relying on any one server. It will “run on blockchain or decentralized peer-to-peer networks, or a combination thereof—such decentralized apps are referred to as dApps” (Investopedia). Then, the idea of trustless and permissionless means that users can interact directly with one another, possibly like the idea of the metaverse, without needing intermediaries. Then, it will be heavily crafted for the use of AI and machine learning. The goal of web 3.0, and one of my personal favorite characteristics, is that computers will be able to “understand information similarly to humans” (Investopedia). This will rely on semantic web concepts. Semantic web concepts would provide computers with further context to data sets so they can interpret it in a more impactful and logical way. Simply put, it puts more data, behind the data (Ontotext).
This support of AI and machine learning should help users find relevant information quicker, and more reliably than ever before. It will also allow computers to tailor to the needs of each user separately, instead of bulk efforts that are used today. As we mentioned in class, AI can give us incredible information all at our fingertips. Finally, it will also continue to develop the connectivity and ubiquity of today’s internet. This will allow for access across multiple applications and devices to the web.
Drawbacks
So, there is so much to look forward to with Web 3.0. However, there are limitations and potential pitfalls that must be considered. First, due to its decentralized nature, internet giants like Google might be hit heavily as their massive data centers may no longer be needed. Whether you think this is good or bad is up to you, however, one thing to keep in mind is Google is a hub of innovation and many of these tech giants help develop lots of this rapidly evolving technology. Another risk is the ability for dangerous ideas to be propagated quickly. Whether that is hate speech, cybersecurity threats, or misinformation, it could all quickly be disseminated to a variety of audiences with close to no supervision or regulation because of Web 3.0 being decentralized. These topics are already challenging to regulate with web 2.0, and with the freedom that comes with web 3.0, I worry there may be more threats than can even be realized.
The Gist
Web 3.0 has incredible opportunities. It can provide the internet with a new web that creates a home for AI, the metaverse, and greater access to information through a decentralized and semantic service. However, there are major risks involved from cybersecurity threats and misinformation. It could bring an incredible change to the world but will require a slow and regulated implementation to ensure minimal risk.
Hi William. I really liked how you set up your post this week. You gave your audience enough background information to understand the Web’s history and where it is going next. Personally, I find it very difficult to picture what Web 3.0 is going to look like, but you helped me better picture what this innovation may look like. I would have enjoyed even more information regarding exactly how close they are to Web 3.0 and when people expect it will be running.
Hi William, I really enjoyed this breakdown on web 3.0. My first takeaway was how the decentralized nature of 3.0 is a threat to the giants such as google. I wonder what the political landscape looks like with the giants and how they are combating that threat. Like Mary mentioned above, I find it difficult to understand what this will look like at a large scale, especially with the emergence of AI and the metaverse, however, I am now intrigued to see the timeline and implications of web 3.0.
Love the potential that Web 3 has to offer. Interconnectedness that feels like ever-flowing learning opportunity. What’s not to like? It surely will shake up the Web as we now know it!
Very informative post, William. What fascinates me the most about Web 3.0 is the idea of semantic network mapping and “putting more data, behind the data”, as you described it. That is definitely an integral part of Web 3.0, AI, and ML. What I am more interested to learn is how this will apply to what we use the web for presently. It is hard to find a practical example of how that would be necessary outside of a computational and analytical perspective. How will this change the way we use the web? I am also intrigued with how the infrastructure of the internet will change to adapt to the developments of Web 3:0. Excited to see how this pans out in the future.
Hello William! I didn’t know much about Web 3.0 prior to reading this, but I know so much more about it now. I liked how you gave a brief history of the technology and talked about its drawbacks. It will be interesting to see how Web 3.0 and AI grow together and the benefits that they can provide to society.
We’ll get into greater depth on this topic when we talk about Blockchain in the future. Web 3 is essentially applications of blockchain (for the most part). They’re trying to rebrand to distance itself from crypto.