Chris Dixon On Crypto, AI, and Why We Need Blockchain More Than Ever
Jan 29, 2024
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Chris Dixon, Founder and Managing Partner at A16z Crypto, discusses his new book 'Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet'. They explore topics such as ownership of digital property, the power accrual of web 2.0 companies, the need for blockchain and open source, the fear around centralized A.I., and the future of blockchain in a regulatory environment.
Open source technology is integral to the internet's foundation and community-owned financial services like Bitcoin can restore power to the people.
The shift from a read-only internet to a read-write model with web 2.0 enabled corporations to dominate and centralize power, hindering the potential for a free and open network.
While blockchain networks offer immutability and resistance to control, the challenge lies in competing with entrenched corporations and ensuring open protocols to maintain an open and democratic internet.
Deep dives
The Rise of Open Source and the Power of Community-Owned Services
The podcast discusses the importance of open source technology and its impact on the internet. Open source projects like Linux and web browsers have been built by a community of developers and have become the foundation of the internet. It is argued that social networking becoming owned by corporations has shifted money and power away from the edges of the network. Bitcoin is presented as a community-owned financial service that appeals to many people. The discussion also mentions the potential dangers of placing too much power in the hands of corporations.
The Evolution of the Internet and the Web 2.0 Era
The podcast explores the evolution of the internet, moving from a read-only model to a read-write model with the emergence of web 2.0. The read-write web allowed users to not only consume information but also contribute and publish their own content. Companies like YouTube played a significant role in this shift by subsidizing hosting and making it easy for users to publish videos. The discussion highlights a pivotal moment when the internet could have become a free and open network, but instead became dominated by a few centralized companies.
The Challenges and Potential of Blockchain Networks
The podcast delves into the challenges and potential of blockchain networks. It is highlighted that blockchain networks have the advantage of being immutable and resistant to control or manipulation. However, corporations with centralized control and financial interests are seen as a potential disadvantage for blockchain networks. The podcast ponders the future of blockchain networks, indicating that while they may face challenges in competing with entrenched corporations, there is still room for hope as new networks and applications continue to emerge.
The importance of open protocols and Twitter's centralized service
The podcast episode discusses the significance of open protocols in contrast to Twitter's centralized service. It highlights a concern that Twitter, as a core internet service, has a single for-profit gatekeeper, deviating from the open nature of other services like the web, email, and subscription messaging. This centralized control raises questions about the potential impact and risks of having a single company control a core internet service. The episode suggests that assessing the impact will depend on Twitter's ability to generate significant revenue and justifying its valuation. Overall, it explores the need for truly open platforms and their implications for the future.
The intersection of blockchain, funding, and features
The podcast delves into the potential of blockchain technology and its implications for addressing the limitations of existing systems like RSS. It highlights the role of blockchain in offering an alternative decentralized funding mechanism, as demonstrated by Bitcoin's mining system. Additionally, it points out blockchain's ability to support better features by enabling its own internal storage space. The episode acknowledges that feature parity with existing centralized systems is crucial and believes that open source AI and competition can drive innovation and bring about more democratic computing systems. It emphasizes the importance of policy battles and advocating for open source AI to prevent the consolidation of power and maintain an open and democratic internet.
EPISODE #34: Today's guest is Chris Dixon, Founder and Managing Partner at A16z Crypto. Chris is here to discuss his new book "Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet". In this episode, we get into open source internet, ownership of digital property, why Bitcoin is important, regulation in the United States, fear around centralized A.I. and the future of blockchain
Featuring Mike Solana , Chris Dixon
Buy Chris' Book!
https://a.co/d/275aNPl
Subscribe to Pirate Wires:
https://www.piratewires.com/
Topics Discussed:
https://www.piratewires.com/p/crypto-choke-point
Pirate Wires Twitter: https://twitter.com/PirateWires
Mike Twitter: https://twitter.com/micsolana
Chris Twitter: https://twitter.com/cdixon
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Welcome Chris Dixon To The Pod! Like & Subscribe
1:20 - Chris' New Book!
3:30 - A History Of The Internet - The Miracle Of The Internet Protocol
7:50 - Digital Property
13:00 - Web 2.0 - Companies Built & Accrue Power
21:15 - RSS vs. Corporate Power
27:00 - Fears Of Controlled Future - Getting To Web3
36:00 - Politicians Who Want More Power
44:30 - Can We Get Out Of This Regulatory Environment?
47:15 - Blockchains Turn 'Don't Be Evil' Into 'Can't Be Evil'
56:00 - Fears Of AI - Centralized Power
1:01:00 - Why We Need Blockchains & Open Source
1:05:00 - Thanks For Joining Chris! Buy His New Book!
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