About 35 years ago, Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web (www), an information system that enables content sharing over the Internet and allows us to access virtually unlimited information. On the occasion of the investigation, Berners-Lee made three predictions on artificial intelligence (AI), data privacy, and most importantly, about breaking up of at least one Big Tech company.
AI assistants will work for humans
One of Berners-Lee’s big predictions includes AI’s role in humans’ lives. While the last year has seen an onset of the technology, the inventor said that one day we’ll have AI assistants that work for us — similar to our doctors, lawyers, and bankers.
“Some people worry about whether, in 35 years, AI will be more powerful than us. One of the things I predict — but it’s something we may have to fight for — is you will have an AI assistant, which you can trust, and it works for you, like a doctor,” Berners-Lee was quoted by CNBC.
Users will own their data
According to Berners-Lee, unlike today where user data is with Google, Meta, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and other tech giants, humans will take true ownership of the data across all platforms, including VR, through a data store, or “pod.”
“You’ll think of your data pod as your digital space, you’ll think of it as being one thing you’re very comfortable with,” Berners-Lee said. Notably, Pods are a technology Berners-Lee is working on with his startup Inrupt.
A digital pod may be used in future to access all essential apps, like emails across phones, laptops, desktop computers and bigger screens like TVs.
A Big Tech company may be forced to break up
The third prediction, and probably the most impactful one in the tech industry of the three, is that a big tech company may be forced to break up.
His prediction came days after the European Union’s landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA) – aimed at a healthier tech competition in the region – officially came into force.
As per the rules, if a tech firm breaches its obligations, the European Commission can enforce some legal measures, including fines worth up to 20% for repeat offenders and demand the breakup of companies in some extreme cases.
“Things are changing so quickly. AI is changing very, very quickly. There are monopolies in AI. Monopolies changed pretty quickly back in the web,” Berners-Lee said.
“Maybe at some point in the future, agencies will have to work to break up big companies, but we don’t know which company that will be,” he added.
AI assistants will work for humans
One of Berners-Lee’s big predictions includes AI’s role in humans’ lives. While the last year has seen an onset of the technology, the inventor said that one day we’ll have AI assistants that work for us — similar to our doctors, lawyers, and bankers.
“Some people worry about whether, in 35 years, AI will be more powerful than us. One of the things I predict — but it’s something we may have to fight for — is you will have an AI assistant, which you can trust, and it works for you, like a doctor,” Berners-Lee was quoted by CNBC.
Users will own their data
According to Berners-Lee, unlike today where user data is with Google, Meta, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and other tech giants, humans will take true ownership of the data across all platforms, including VR, through a data store, or “pod.”
“You’ll think of your data pod as your digital space, you’ll think of it as being one thing you’re very comfortable with,” Berners-Lee said. Notably, Pods are a technology Berners-Lee is working on with his startup Inrupt.
A digital pod may be used in future to access all essential apps, like emails across phones, laptops, desktop computers and bigger screens like TVs.
A Big Tech company may be forced to break up
The third prediction, and probably the most impactful one in the tech industry of the three, is that a big tech company may be forced to break up.
His prediction came days after the European Union’s landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA) – aimed at a healthier tech competition in the region – officially came into force.
As per the rules, if a tech firm breaches its obligations, the European Commission can enforce some legal measures, including fines worth up to 20% for repeat offenders and demand the breakup of companies in some extreme cases.
“Things are changing so quickly. AI is changing very, very quickly. There are monopolies in AI. Monopolies changed pretty quickly back in the web,” Berners-Lee said.
“Maybe at some point in the future, agencies will have to work to break up big companies, but we don’t know which company that will be,” he added.