internet taste levels

February 2024

I’m bullish on internet taste levels over the next few years. And it’s because of the combo of AI and crypto.

AI changes how content gets created, and crypto changes how it’s monetised.

AI tools can generate content in a couple of clicks. They run 24/7 and don’t need a muse. With no limits on content production, taste becomes the differentiator.

By taste, I mean creating something that vibes with an audience.

The only way to stay ahead of the models is to make unique, authentic shit that resonates with fellow humans. Naval has this dope line that in the internet age “being at the extreme in your art is very important”... and this is even truer with AI.

So as AI forces creators to lean into their taste, NFTs increase the returns on good taste.

Tokenisation of all internet media is inevitable.

NFTs let creators have a direct relationship with their audience, own their content without being locked into platforms, and make more money by setting pricing and keeping the upside.

Ads have been the dominant biz model of the internet so far. Creators put stuff on platforms for free, then get a cut of ad dollars or find their own sponsors. It’s easy to chase eyeballs because the ads model is based on attention.

I’m not saying ads are evil… there’s loads of awesome content out there. But they've also produced a ton of junk. Chasing attention usually leads to clickbait and middle-of-the-road garbage.

NFTs are an escape because when creators mint their content, they sell ownership of the work. Not attention. Everyone can access it, but a limited number of people own it.

The audience becomes the customer instead of advertisers. The creator’s job is to make something worth owning… that people wanna collect.

We’re gonna get more creators making cool, niche stuff online. And that’s sick.