EP.06 Sari Azout on what is wrong with the internet
Feb 4, 2022
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Sari Azout, the founder of StartupBeat and a thoughtful writer on digital systems, dives into the flaws of the internet and the need for better information navigation. The discussion highlights the shift to Web 3.0 and innovative curation methods to combat information overload. Sari shares insights on the community-driven search engine concept, emphasizing the importance of human engagement over standard algorithms. They also discuss the intricate landscape of Web3, exploring ownership, governance, and the impact of digital tools on creativity.
Sari Azout emphasizes the need for a thoughtful curation system that enhances the way we engage with and understand information online.
She highlights the potential of Web3 to incentivize community involvement while also raising critical concerns about its current implementations and decentralization.
Deep dives
Sari Azut's Journey and Philosophy
Sari Azut emphasizes the significance of focusing on problem-solving rather than becoming overly obsessed with specific technologies. Her journey started when she moved from Colombia to the United States for college, where she realized the vast potential of the internet to connect people and ideas. Over the years, she transitioned from investment banking to entrepreneurship, founding a successful startup that emphasized storytelling and the beauty of secondhand apparel. Through her experiences, Sari developed a philosophy that values creating delightful, human-centered online experiences that address real-world challenges, highlighting the importance of understanding human motivations.
Understanding Information Consumption
Sari discusses the oversaturation of information available on the internet and how it often overwhelms users rather than providing meaningful insights. She identifies a significant gap in the ability to effectively curate and process valuable information, noting that much of what people engage with is superficial and lacks depth. By developing a 'resonance database,' Sari sought to create a system that would facilitate deeper thinking by connecting various insights and ideas across different fields. This focus on thoughtful curation and organization reflects her belief that the way we consume information must evolve to truly enrich our understanding.
The Role of Curation in Modern Information Systems
Sari argues that curation should play a crucial role in navigating the vast amount of information on the internet today. She believes that traditional methods of curation, which primarily reduce information volume, fall short of creating innovative pathways for knowledge sharing. Instead, she advocates for an integrated approach combining curation, knowledge management, and community-driven insights, which can enhance user experience and discovery. This perspective signifies her commitment to a collaborative model where curators can intelligently filter and organize insights for a more enriched knowledge landscape.
Insights into Web3 and Future Implications
Sari explores the complexities surrounding Web3, highlighting that its value lies in the ability to incentivize involvement and create shared ownership within communities. She notes that while Web2 facilitated user-generated content, Web3 seeks to bridge the gap between creators and consumers by allowing participants to benefit financially from their contributions. However, she raises concerns about how various Web3 models are being implemented and the true level of decentralization they achieve. By understanding these nuances, Sari hopes to create more efficient systems where communities can actively contribute and share in the value generated, pushing for thoughtful integration over chaotic decentralization.
In this episode Ida speaks with Sari Azout about their shared passion of digital information systems. They cover topics including what is wrong with the internet, the role of curation in web 2.5, Sari’s philosophy in building new systems for navigating information and ideas, what web3 really is and some of the problems we face in understanding it.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit gooandprickle.substack.com
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