Web 3.0, or Web3, is the third generation of the internet, i.e., the next evolution of the World Wide Web. This new generation provides you with a data-driven Semantic Web by using a machine-based understanding of data for developing a better connected and more intelligent online experience for users across the globe.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is an integral part of the Web3 experience since almost every application of this new Web version lays its foundation on AI. Let’s deep dive into their correlation and how they are connected.
Why Was Web3 Needed?
Why did we even need Web3 in the first place? It is because of the static nature of the current Web that can’t adjust to users' specific needs. Web 3.0 brings a more dynamic approach to the table that promises to be more interactive. Working as its pillars of creation and strength, we have emerging technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain, that will redefine the web experience and ensure democratization across all aspects of the Internet by bringing significant structural changes. In Web 3.0:
- We can store data securely and distribute it across many devices, which eventually helps us remove the need for centralized servers.
- Users get a dynamic design that cuts down the number of risks of massive data leaks to a great extent.
- Data becomes more resilient and hard to be compromised since it is no longer stored centrally.
The Evolution of Web3
Most people would define Web3 as the future of the internet, which would be the most accurate and precise definition of the term. In 2006, Tim Berners-Lee said:
“People keep asking what Web 3.0 is. Maybe when you’ve got an overlay of scalable vector graphics — everything rippling and folding and looking misty — on Web 2.0 and access to a Semantic Web integrated across a huge data space, you’ll have access to an unbelievable data resource…”.
To get an estimate of the unbelievable data resource Tim talked about, consider that:
- The growth in consumer IP traffic will be three-fold between 2017 and 2022, growing at a CAGR of 27%.
- The global consumer IP traffic will reach 332.7 EB per month by 2022, which is already here.
- 2.5 quintillion bytes of data were generated daily in 2020 alone. 40% of this data was machine-generated. These stats make it evident that the data volumes are growing faster than ever and imagined, keeping the table open for new Web3 definitions and Web's connections with the digital universe.
Web 1.0: The Syntactic Web
As the name suggests, the first version of the internet is known as the first stage of the World Wide Web evolution. In Web 1.0, also called the Syntactic Web, the user’s role was limited. Here are some key features of Web 1.0:
- Web 1.0 is a read-only web experience.
- Web 1.0 allowed users to read the information on web pages powered by HTML, URLs, web browsers, and HTTP.
- Web 1.0 offered a highly decentralized experience with no search engines.
- Web 1.0 content was static and hyperlinked together.
Web 2.0: The Social Web
Web 2.0 entered as the second generation of the World Wide Web. Also known as the read-write Web or the social Web, Web 2.0 facilitated interaction between users and the internet.
- This generation of the Web was driven by social networks, mobiles, and cloud technology.
- It allowed the users to read and write content on websites and applications.
- Not only this, but users could also distribute the content between sites.
- Most of the data related to Web2.0 is owned by a small group of big tech companies — YouTube, Meta (previously Facebook), and Twitter.
All the user data was highly centralized with these tech giants, and there was a dire need for the centralization of data (and power) and monetization of users, which created the need for Web 3.0.
Enter Web 3.0: The Decentralized Web
As discussed earlier, Web 3.0 is a highly decentralized version of the World Wide Web, driven by machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI). It also uses blockchain technology, resulting in more efficient and seamless real-world human communication.
- Web 3.0 puts the users in power since it gives them control over their data and content.
- Users can sell or trade their data without worrying about losing ownership or risking their privacy. The best part? Users don’t need to rely on intermediaries for any of these.
- Using Web3.0, you can log into a website anonymously, i.e., without getting your online identity tracked.
The Key to Innovation in Web3
The main differences between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 are pretty obvious. Web 1.0 allows users to passively consult web pages and doesn’t allow them to generate their own content. Web 2.0, on the other hand, lets users generate content along with interacting with sites (and each other) through social media platforms, forums, and more. The lack of certain features in Web 2.0 led to the innovation of Web3.
The key to innovation in Web 3.0 is the digitization of assets via tokenization. Tokenization is the process of converting your rights and assets into a token or digital representation on a blockchain network. Some examples of such tokens are cryptocurrencies and nonfungible tokens (NFTs) that you can easily exchange across networks. It will help you drive a new business model that democratizes finance and commerce. NFTs are data units that represent unique assets. Some examples of NFTs are digital art, avatars, or trading cards. You can own and monetize NFTs for your personal gain.
Web3 Features
The term Web 3.0 is believed to have been in 2006. It represents a whole new evolution of the Web, bringing specific innovations and practices as its features. Here are the eight main features of Web3 that will help you understand it better.
- Semantic Web
The Semantic Web plays a vital role in the next evolution of the Web since it helps improve various abilities of web technologies, such as the ability to generate, share, and connect user content through search and analysis. It is made possible with the help of natural language processing (NLP), i.e., by understanding the meaning of words instead of showing results based on keywords or numbers.
- Artificial Intelligence
Taking the semantic capabilities a notch higher and combining them with natural language processing, computer machines can be made to understand information like humans, which will eventually help provide faster and more relevant results. This combination helps computers become more intelligent and generate relevant results.
- Ubiquity
The best thing about internet content and services is that you can access them from anywhere and at any time. All you need is a device with an internet connection. Even Web 2.0 is ubiquitous in many ways. Web3, with the adoption of IoT devices, is taking it to new levels.
- Blockchain
Blockchain is the most powerful tool or technology to protect user data since it offers layers of data encryption, which makes tampering with user data difficult. Not only this, but it also prevents large companies from using user data for their benefit.
- Decentralized
Web3 offers decentralized data networks that help you store data within a peer-to-peer interconnection. What does it mean? It means that the users have complete ownership over their digital assets and data. Also, they can securely log in over the Internet without getting tracked.
- 3D Graphics
Websites these days use three-dimensional design heavily. And what are websites a part of? The latest evolution of the Web — Web3. Some common examples of this use case are computer games, e-commerce, museum guides, geospatial contexts, etc.
- Connectivity
Web 3 brings more connectivity in terms of information. All thanks to semantic metadata that makes the information on the Web more connected. It helps enhance the user experience and evolve it into a whole new level of connectivity that strategically uses all available information.
- Edge Computing
Web3 leverages the power of edge computing, which allows it to process the apps and data at the network edge on multiple devices, such as laptops, appliances, mobile phones, appliances, sensors, smart cars, etc.
The Connection Between AI and Web3
AI naturally intersects with Web3 because the latter is at its core. It is an open ledger of highly valuable data. For instance, AI helps computer machines understand information like humans, which eventually provides faster and more relevant results. This combination helps computers become more intelligent and provide users with relevant results. Specific applications of AI in Web3 include, but are not limited to:
Credit Scoring
As a part of the Web3 experience, AI is enabling better credit systems and access to early wages. With the help of AI, lenders can assess a borrower's risk without any hassle. It is made possible by analyzing data excluded from a traditional credit score, such as checking if the borrower spends on necessities or luxuries.
NFT Plagiarism Detection
Web3 makes it easier to spot a fake NFT. You can check the authenticity of the NFT in a simple step. All you need to do is a reverse Google image search. In addition, the platform on which the NFT is uploaded for sale can verify collections and their artists. For authenticity, look for a blue checkmark next to its title.
Cheating Detection in Games and Retroactive Airdrops
Cheat detection systems powered by ML learn from players and tailor themselves to fit your gaming needs. An ML system utilizes game data not possessed by the off-the-shelf cheat detection tools, making it harder to fool ML cheat detection. You can keep it up to date by training it on player data.
AI in On-Chain Games
On-chain games are nothing but blockchain games. They are also known as nonfungible token games. On-chain games use NFTs for creating different parts of the game, such as weapons, rules, characters, and skins. AI makes on-chain games more appealing and aesthetically pleasing by allowing for computer players, generating unique dialogue, and creating beautiful graphics.
Web3 Native Ads
A Web3 environment has many capabilities to enhance the user experience by offering rich and interactive opportunities for advertisements. Marketers can use this feature to deliver more targeted ads to users along with creating a more efficient marketing strategy to advertise their products.
AI and Web3: What’s the Future?
We have come a long way since the inception of the Internet — from Web 1.0 to Web 3.0. Web 1.0 offered us a lot of new features that seemed fascinating until Web 2.0 arrived. And now, when Web3 is here, we have an entirely new set of advanced features, which seemed unimaginable at one point. AI and blockchain are further enhancing the Web3 experience with their unique features like data security and NFT plagiarism detection. In the future, we will see implications of AI in more areas, which will take the Web3 experience a notch higher.
Looking for Web3 Services?
At Rather Labs, we have a group of expert engineers with years of experience in AI, Web applications, and blockchain. We have successfully deployed many blockchain projects, including Membrane, Hatom, and NRC-721. If you are looking to implement AI or blockchain in your next Web project, we are here to help. Get in touch with us to know more, and we will take it from there.
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