Worldview
The Evolution of the Internet and Web3: From Dial-Up to AI
In general, observing trends of the internet, one thing is clear — Web3 is moving from general to specific, slow to fast, and mediocre UX to seamless UX — all in the direction of verticalization and convenience.
How we interact with the internet has changed disruptively over the decades:
🌐 The Internet Timeline
Dial-Up Era (1991)
- When the internet first came out, it was entirely text-based.
- Users accessed it through command-line interfaces (CLI).
- You needed clunky and expensive hardware just to get online.
Internet Explorer Era (Late 1990s)
- The first web browsers emerged.
- They combined the ability to navigate and visually browse web pages.
- A huge leap in accessibility and usability.
Search Engine Era (2000s)
- Search engines like Google became the default entry point to the web.
- “10 blue links” became the standard way of accessing information.
- Businesses were built on indexing and organizing web content.
Age of AI (2020s)
- AI is now capable of helping you get exactly what you want using a simple interface.
- No need to "browse" — just ask.
- Trillions of dollars in value are being created from these intelligent interfaces.
🧱 The Web3 Timeline
Web3 has followed a similar evolution:
Dial-Up Era (2008)
- Bitcoin OGs accessed crypto through terminal-based interfaces.
- Required expensive infrastructure and deep technical knowledge.
Internet Explorer Era (Late 2010s)
- Wallets, block explorers, and developer tools started to mature.
- The UX was still clunky but more people could now participate.
Current Phase
- Steady improvements continue, much like the early internet days.
- However, Web3 is still missing a few critical building blocks to go truly mainstream.
What’s Next?
Just as the internet evolved through layers of abstraction and UX innovation, Web3 is undergoing a similar transformation. The path forward is:
- More specific applications
- Faster, cheaper infrastructure
- Simpler, seamless experiences
All pointing toward verticalized, consumer-friendly experiences that abstract