This will be a bigger battle than anyone anticipates. It is only a matter of time before there is an Apple and Google version of Muse and possibly TikTok, in addition to the frontier LLM agents. Maybe a commerce agent from Amazon.
Every app that is a services, marketplace or commerce app will need to existentially decide to open APIs for consumer agents to interact. Smaller players have no choice. Ad revenues are more than transaction fees, either the consumer benefits or distribution aggregators will demand a higher transaction fare.
I know I don't want an agent for each app. I would like my agent to be able to do tasks I require. We can already see consumers getting trained on that behavior by the frontier labs.
Those with network moats - restaurants, groceries, drivers might be able to withstand for a while, over time convenience and end user experience will win and they will have to align. Content moats (protected by copyright) could decide to allow agents or chose to hold on to the consumer interaction. I suspect other than the feeling of a lack of control, it won't change their economics.
Commoditized back ends will need to worry, insurance, tickets, hotels, services - if they don't adapt new players will.
The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald
The internet increasingly rewards the angrier, louder side, the more certain-sounding side, often the stupider side.
Maybe intelligence is being able to understand why the other side believes what it believes.
Introducing WTF: Discourse.
Two opposing ideas. Two people who actually believe them. No winner. Just the strongest version of both arguments.
You decide what you believe.
are indian cities broken cause indians lack civic sense? no
is capitalism the only economic setup that can get india out of poverty? yes
is an mba still relevant today? no
do indian startups confuse convenience for innovation? no
how does these topics require dedicated episodes?
with great reach comes great responsibility? - for India, yes.
is commercial success an honest measure of good art? no
india is not a sporting nation? no
sports is a luxury only the privileged can pursue? no
WTF Discourse - Season 1
We’re taking on everything from MBAs and startups to sport, art, influencers, capitalism and civic behaviour..
The idea is simple: hear two genuinely opposing arguments without feeling the need to pick a side.
Many more experts & moderators will join in the episodes to follow. Open to guest suggestions :)