Exploring Three Perspectives on the Future of the Internet.

The Internet stands as a remarkable achievement in modern technology, continuously evolving. At its core, three distinct visions shape the potential trajectories for the Internet's future. This article delves into the three concepts that influence the technological and architectural direction of the Internet: Web 3.0, Web3, and the semantic web.

Exploring the Future of the Internet: Web 3.0

Web 3.0 represents the most expansive vision among the three proposed for the future of the Internet. It not only incorporates but also cross-pollinates ideas from the other two visions. Essentially, Web 3.0 builds upon the concepts of Web 2.0, posing the question, 'What comes next?'

Web 2.0 generally denotes the web that evolved in the early part of this century, introducing user-modifiable applications like social media and technological advancements such as Ajax. In contrast, Web 1.0, with its reliance on straight HTML and cumbersome JavaScript snippets, starkly differs from the sophisticated Web 2.0 applications seen today.

Currently, we find ourselves in the process of shaping Web 3.0, anticipating applications that will render today's web seemingly mundane. While the term Web 3.0 may be linked to specific ideas or technologies, its essence lies in representing the next generation of Internet software and interfaces.

Evolving Web 2.0

Undoubtedly, contemporary applications employing cutting-edge techniques surpass the sophistication of first-generation Web 2.0 applications. However, do they represent a radical departure? Are they fundamentally distinct? Not precisely. What we observe today can be better described as Web 2.5 rather than a complete transition to Web 3.0.

So, what characterizes the key technologies in this current Web 2.5 phase? The cloud stands out prominently. Despite its ubiquity, virtualized infrastructure truly came into its own over the past decade, exerting a definitive influence on how web applications operate today.

Two additional pivotal technologies in the Web 2.5 landscape are reactive frameworks (such as React) and NoSQL data stores. Both constituted significant refinements in their respective fields, leaving a substantial impact.

These three technologies—cloud computing, NoSQL, and reactive programming—form the cornerstones of Web 2.5. While they are expected to continue playing a substantial role in the upcoming phase of the Internet, they do not encapsulate the essence of Web 3.0.

Defining the essence of Web 3.0 proves challenging as we are currently in the process of unraveling it. Nevertheless, we possess enough information to perceive it in broad strokes and make preliminary assessments.

Blockchain emerges as the third and most forward-thinking technology underpinning Web 3.0. It fundamentally alters how the Internet operates, introducing a paradigm distinct from anything seen before. However, it is important to note that blockchain is not technically synonymous with Web 3.0. Advocates of this transformative evolution prefer a distinct term, referring to it as Web3.

Web3 and Web 3.0 are not the same thing.

Following the time-honored tradition of creating confusion through term overloading, Web 3.0 and Web3 share similarities but also entail different and vaguely defined concepts. These terms are often interchangeably used, representing two perspectives on the same overarching idea.

It is crucial to discern these distinctions, as Web 3.0 primarily denotes the overall nature of the next web, while Web3 specifically relates to the parallel domain of blockchain innovations.

The influence of Web3 is poised to significantly shape the ultimate meaning of Web 3.0. In practical terms, Web 3.0 is expected to incorporate the advancements brought forth by Web3. Should blockchain play a substantial role in the future of the Internet (a belief held by many), Web 3.0 might ultimately become synonymous with Web3.

Before delving further into the impact of blockchain, let's first explore the role of the third player in the current evolution of the Internet.

The web of semantics

The concept of the semantic web originates from Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the Internet, along with others. Essentially, the semantic web integrates metadata into the information disseminated by applications. This metadata articulates the meaning, intent, and relationships of the data (the semantics), thereby converting the Internet into a machine-navigable network of interconnected resources.

Fundamentally, the semantic web aspires to elevate the Internet from being a mere database to a knowledge base. It represents a natural extension or refinement of the existing web and lays a strong claim to being considered Web 3.0, given its prestigious lineage. However, putting this concept into practical implementation poses challenges, as it involves increased effort without immediate benefits for applications or their developers. The successful adoption of the semantic web necessitates a reevaluation of how applications are structured, sometimes requiring a departure from familiar technologies such as non-RESTful RESTful APIs.

In the long run, technologies like JSON-LD and HTMX are anticipated to facilitate the integration of semantic web concepts, contributing to the realization of a more meaningful web.

AI that Generates and the Semantic Web

When we contemplate the confluence of the semantic web and Web3, we discern two influential trends shaping the trajectory of Web 3.0: decentralization (Web3) and data linking (semantic web). One is a rising force, while the other stands as the established successor.

In Tim Berners-Lee's exploration of the semantic web concept, he introduces the future browser that will possess contextual information, enhancing user interactions. According to him, this semantic web will possess knowledge about its own knowledge, eliminating the need for artificial intelligence on the scale of 2001's Hal or Star Wars's C-3PO.

Interestingly, we find ourselves at a tipping point with generative AI, which, while not akin to C-3PO, will significantly impact the web's future development. The pursuit of making data more semantic, contextual, and relatable took a substantial leap forward with modern AI, particularly large language models. Surprisingly, instead of incorporating semantic data directly, we achieved this by creating massive probability machines to simulate it post facto.

While the idea of semantic meta-data has progressed slowly and incrementally, generative AI has rapidly gained prominence. Suddenly, the once inert information heap encapsulated in URLs has come alive.

Undoubtedly, generative AI will exert its influence on Web 3.0. Whether it leads to a complete upheaval is yet to be determined. We might already have surpassed the peak of excitement (or hype cycle) for this AI generation, transitioning into the subsequent phase of extrapolating its finer nuances. (Blockchain is undergoing a similar life cycle, referred to by Gartner as the plateau of productivity.)

Blockchain, AI, and the future web

The precise demarcation between traditional applications and blockchain applications (commonly known as dApps or distributed apps) is still uncertain. However, it is anticipated that blockchain will gradually extend its influence to nearly every facet of the web. Presently, blockchain is significantly impacting the financial sector, where decentralized finance (DeFi) is introducing near-instantaneous, low-fee transactions without the need for brokers, banks, or clearinghouses.

The realms of identity and authorization are likely to undergo fundamental changes through blockchain. Initiatives like Sign in with Ethereum (SiWE) offer a glimpse into the forthcoming transformations.

The next frontier involves the integration of AI, serving both as a tool for software development and as a component within software. Developers have already integrated AI as a coding assistant, despite occasional perplexing errors. In the foreseeable future, more sophisticated applications for design, architecture, data manipulation, and beyond are expected to emerge. AI-augmented applications are also poised to enhance the interface between individuals and data, making it less cumbersome.

This leads us to a compelling question: which technology will exert a greater impact on the future of the Internet? The belief is that blockchain will ultimately play a more distinctive role. The rationale lies in the fact that generative AI enhances existing processes, albeit sometimes radically, while blockchain introduces a fundamentally different approach: trustless, public, and secure computing.

Conclusion

The concept of Web 3.0 involves the comprehensive utilization of Web 2.0 methodologies, encompassing user interactivity, cloud platforms, reactivity, and NoSQL, while progressively integrating components from blockchain, semantics, and AI. In its ultimate form, Web 3.0 will signify the convergence of blockchain and conventional applications, optimizing the incorporation of both semantics and generative AI. Success will be achieved by technologies and teams that adeptly manage the gradual blending and refinement of this amalgamation.