🛋️ AI is EATING the Web

🛋️ AI is EATING the Web

In today's edition, we're looking at a major shift that could change how we use the internet forever.

Outlier Ventures calls this the rise of the 'Post Web'—a new digital era where AI agents take over our online interactions using decentralised systems. Let’s unpack what this means for the web, your daily life, and the future of big tech

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🛋️ AI is EATING the Web

Soon, your online interactions won’t need you at all—AI will take care of them.

According to Outlier Ventures, we’re entering what they call “The Post Web,” where AI agents take charge of our online interactions through decentralised systems, leaving much of the visible internet behind.


From Attention to Intention

The internet today is all about capturing attention. Notifications, ads, and endless scrolling are designed to keep us hooked.

But this system prioritises engagement over genuine value, which usually ends up being a frustrating experience.

“The Post Web” flips the script:

  • Instead of platforms competing for our time, AI agents will focus on fulfilling user intentions.
  • These agents will operate in a decentralised ecosystem, completing tasks aligned with our real goals, creating a user-driven economy of action rather than distraction.


Why Web3 Matters to AI

Over the last decade, Web3 has built the backbone of this transformation. Its decentralised protocols were too complex for everyday users, but perfectly suited for AI systems.

For example, an AI agent can coordinate a multi-step process like buying a car:

  • It reviews your budget and preferences.
  • It scans verified listings on a decentralised marketplace.
  • It negotiates on your behalf and finalises payment—all while ensuring every step is transparent and secure, thanks to blockchain technology.

In this sense, Web3 was never meant to be for humans—it was built for machines.


What This Means for Businesses

The shift to "The Post Web" means major changes for companies, but businesses can adapt by following three phases:

  1. Now: Start using AI to enhance existing products and streamline operations.
  2. 2025–2027: Build dual systems—one for human users and another for AI agents.
  3. 2028+: Focus on core functionality as AI handles the majority of user-facing tasks.

This roadmap is just one potential framework outlined in the report. The roadmap you choose will depend on each business.

Companies that move quickly and strategically will be better positioned to thrive in this new paradigm.


Welcome to the "Thin Web"

As AI systems take over most digital interactions, the traditional web will shrink into what Outlier Ventures dubs the “Thin Web”—a layer reserved for creative, social, and immersive activities.

Much like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, only the higher-order experiences will remain human-facing. The mundane will disappear into the background, managed invisibly by AI.


What’s Next?

The groundwork for this $9 trillion transformation is already being laid. AI agents will soon navigate decentralised systems to fulfill user needs autonomously, making the internet an invisible layer of our lives rather than a destination. 

The systems being built today are laying the groundwork for a future where user needs drive innovation, not attention-grabbing tactics.


📌 What everyday task would you love to hand over to an AI?


🟠 PayBy becomes the first UAE fintech to secure a Gaming-Related Vendor License to enable financial services for gaming operators under the GCGRA.


🟠 FOO partners with eNovate to drive digital transformation in Egypt’s financial sector with scalable fintech solutions and innovative digital payments.


🟠 Network International partners with NBF to provide corporate clients with omni-channel digital payment solutions.


🟠 Mastercard partners with Fundbot to launch a tech-driven B2B payments platform in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.


🟠 Tarabut and Geidea partner to simplify SME financing in Saudi Arabia, aiming to provide secure, real-time digital lending solutions.


🟠 Innovance has teamed up with Salt Edge to enhance Open Banking solutions across EMEA, offering secure, real-time financial data access for improved decision-making and global expansion.


🟠 AAZZUR has partnered with Fourthline to enhance its Open Banking services by integrating KYC and AML solutions


🟠 Adyen and Spendesk partner to improve embedded finance solutions for SMBs.


🟠 BlackRock has secured a licence to operate in Abu Dhabi, focusing on private markets and AI infrastructure.


🟠 Bitcoin nears $100,000, driven by investor optimism over potential regulatory changes under President-elect Donald Trump.


🟠 Riyadh-based Lean Technologies raises $67.5M in Series B funding to expand Pay-by-Bank and Open Banking solutions, driving financial innovation across MENA.


🟠 EdfaPay raised $5 million in pre-Series A funding to expand its smartphone-based payment solutions across MENA and Pakistan.


🟠 Talabat's IPO on the Dubai Financial Market targets up to a $10 billion valuation, backed by $250 million from cornerstone investors, as it reports strong growth in revenue and profits for 2024.


🟠 Amazon invests $4 billion in Anthropic, making AWS its primary cloud and AI training partner.


 Lending, Spending, Protecting: Embedded Finance’s Q3 Revolution

Embedded finance continues to disrupt industries, with Q3 2024 spotlighting transformative collaborations between fintechs, businesses, and financial institutions. From co-branded cards enhancing loyalty to BNPL solutions democratizing travel, and virtual cards redefining e-commerce, the momentum is undeniable. 

Key trends include strategic fintech alliances enabling global cross-border payments, SMB-focused lending through embedded platforms, and tailored insurance integrations improving customer experiences in travel and retail. The adoption of BaaS solutions, from white-label apps to advanced fraud detection, showcases embedded finance's potential to revolutionize customer engagement and operational efficiency.

Unlock the full potential of embedded finance - discover in-depth strategies, exclusive data insights, and actionable trends shaping the future of finance in the detailed report.


Now, a quick break for your wellness. Chief Wellness Officer at FAB Diego Carrete is on a mission to help executives get fit, increase their energy, and live longer.

Today he shares simple ways to boost your child's brain development and manage their screen time.


Good morning,

Here are 2 main ways to ensure your child's brain and vestibular system develop properly:

  1. Encourage activities that improve balance and coordination.
  2. Incorporate dynamic movements into their playtime.


Kids today are moving far less, and excessive screen time is having a negative impact on brain development.


5 Tips to Help Parents Manage Children's Social Media Use (Based on Research)

  1. Set a social media curfew: Agree on a time to turn off Wi-Fi and set a social media curfew for the entire family. This will help everyone wind down and improve sleep habits.
  2. Encourage family meals and homework time: Make sure your kids come out of their rooms to eat and do their homework with the family. This helps foster connection and keeps them from being isolated with their screens.
  3. Engage in conversations about social media: Ask your kids what they’re seeing on social media and how they feel about it. Opening up a dialogue helps them process their online experiences.
  4. Stay informed about social media: Keep up with new social media platforms and trends. Understanding the digital world your kids are navigating will allow you to guide them better.
  5. Lead by example: Practice what you preach. Don’t let your phone distract you. Model good digital habits for your kids to follow.

That’s it for now. Found this helpful? Share this with someone who needs it.

See you next week, where we'll talk about how to adjust temperature and light to boost your energy.


Subscribe for weekly updates on all things fintech here. Thank you to our sponsors ToYou, Mastercard, M2P Fintech, Thunes, and Adyen for making today's edition possible.


💡 Want to guest post in this newsletter?

This newsletter reaches over 25,000 subscribers interested in fintech’s latest developments. If you have an insightful perspective to share, drop us a line at editor@couchonomics.com.

Emad Ayyash

Head of Digital Financial Services at Finance House | Fintech Strategy Expert | ePayment & Open Banking Pioneer | Driving Digital Transformation & Market Expansion

3mo

Thank you for sharing this insight ... Love how you broke this down, shifting from attention-grabbing to intention-driven systems is such a powerful concept. Do you think businesses will embrace this shift quickly, or will we see a lag as they adapt to AI handling most interactions? Arjun Vir Singh

Arjun Vir Singh

Curious about the Future of Finance & Tech | Partner @ Arthur D. Little | Podcast🎙️Host | Angel🪽Investor | Author ✍️ | LinkedIn Top Voice 🗣️| Confused 😵💫 father to 👭🏻 | All views on LI are personal

3mo

📌 What everyday task would you love to hand over to an AI?

Like
Reply
Dr. Martha Boeckenfeld

Master Future Tech (AI, Web3, VR) with Ethics| CEO & Founder, Top 100 Women of the Future | Award winning Fintech and Future Tech Influencer| Educator| Keynote Speaker | Advisor| (ex-UBS, Axa C-Level Executive)

3mo

The Postweb vision outlined by Jamie Burke is probably the best paper to describe what happens after the Internet. The rise of agents will just naturally come.

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