AI Threatens Ad Revenue Model

Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, has cautioned that the increasing reliance on AI agents could significantly jeopardise the multi-billion dollar advertising revenues of major tech companies like Google and Meta. He suggests AI's potential to work in alignment with personal needs rather than serving corporate interests could revolutionise web interactions. Berners-Lee has been advocating for individual data sovereignty, envisioning a shift from an 'attention economy' to an 'intention economy', where user desires guide engagement.

Berners-Lee's concern stems from the current state of the web, where algorithms prioritise engagement over truth, leading to harmful emotional effects and skewed perceptions of reality. He critiques the addictive nature of social media platforms and the harvesting of user data. Berners-Lee is promoting Solid, a project for decentralising information sharing through peer-to-peer networking, ensuring individual users retain ownership of their data.

Berners-Lee's vision faces challenges related to scalability and funding. He questions whether the future internet will be defined by grassroots communities, premium subscriptions, or an intention-based ad economy. He stresses the importance of structural checks to ensure AI empowers users and upholds their autonomy, rather than becoming an extension of corporate self-interest.