Does Web4 already exist? It is well on the horizon and is expected to be the next giant leap in Internet evolution.
While opinions differ on the emergence of Web4, they mostly tend to agree that this version will be more intuitive, individual-orientated, and responsive.
But how will this change how we live, work, and connect? Don’t be left in the dark here. Let’s explore where we’re headed and how Web4 will transform the future online.
What is Web4?
Web4, also known as the “Intelligent Web” or the “Symbiotic Web,” will likely enable seamless interaction between humans and machines.
Machine learning, advanced AI, and decentralized networks will fuse the physical and virtual worlds, making interactions smoother and more dynamic than ever before.
Will this make our lives easier?
According to Margrethe Vestager, Executive-vice president of the EU commission’s “Europe fit the digital age”: “The Web4 and virtual worlds will bring benefits for health, contribute to the green transition and better anticipate natural disasters. We want to make sure Web4 becomes an open, secure, trustworthy, fair, and inclusive digital environment for all.”
Let’s take a deeper look into where we are heading. But first, where are we now, and how did we get here?
From static to smart: The evolutionary path from Web1 to Web4
Web1 focused on reading. It was like the Internet’s version of the old Yellow Pages—you’d find information, read it, and that was the end of the story.
Then came Web2—it was all about interaction. This is where social media took over, and user-generated content became king. Everyone started chiming in, sharing all sorts of photos and leaving comments.
Moving forward to today, Web3 takes things up a few notches with decentralization, AI, and peer-to-peer networks. It moves personalization forward to a new level—for example, your browser seems to know you inside and out, showing you clothes, shoes, and furniture that you probably don’t realize you need! And Web3 still has more potential.
In parallel, we’re moving close to the cusp of Web4, where humans and machines will work in a symbiotic relationship. Web4 technology will learn from human interactions to deliver insights and anticipate your needs before you even ask.
According to the EU’s Web4 strategy and virtual worlds document, its market value is projected to expand to an estimated $800 billion by 2030.
Before we jump in with both feet, let’s put this into perspective: Web4 is still a vision, and no one knows exactly how it will look or when it will arrive. However, its eventual emergence seems inevitable.
Unlike Web1 and Web2, which maintained a clear divide between the real and virtual worlds, Web3 blurs that line, and Web4 will create a fluid, integrated experience where the two coexist seamlessly.
The road from Web1 to Web3 is an easy path to chart, but looking under the hood, what are the changes and benefits you are likely to experience when Web4 does hit the streets?
Web3 vs Web4: What is the difference?
Web3 is a decentralized web that focuses on smarter tech, such as blockchain smart contracts and advanced AI algorithms. Users can own their digital identity, and it is generally censorship-resistant. Web3 puts control in users’ hands.
Web4 will build on Web3’s decentralized foundation. It’s all about taking interactivity and immersion to the next level. By abstracting away complex technical layers, Web4 will be able to deliver a simplified, seamless experience for the end-users.
Web4 will focus on intelligence, personalization, and sustainability and provide seamless communication between many different devices and applications.
It will optimize web interaction with diverse interfaces, such as gesture, voice, and, in the future, brain-computer interactions.
To summarize, While Web3 redefines data and value exchange, Web4 ushers in an era of predictive intelligence and adaptability, reshaping the digital landscape. Web4 will become the intelligent web.
Web4: Its components and key features
The core components of what is likely to shape Web4 in the future are expected to consist of these three technologies:
- Artificial intelligence
- Machine learning
- IoT (Internet-of-things)
How is this different from the current web?
To start with, try to envisage AI, ML, and IoT molded together.
Fusing these three technologies will allow you to customize your experience across devices, apps, and even smart home gadgets while they interact with each other.
This is where Web4 will make a fundamental shift from Web3 — Instead of us figuring out how to use tech — tech will be figuring out how to work for us. In other words, with Web4, your devices will learn and get to know you well; they will be able to provide more personified experiences and predict your needs.
It’s not just about being more connected; it’s about being smarter, faster, and friendlier — it will have the power to sync your digital and real-world life in perfect harmony.
Imagine how Web4 can redefine smart living by enabling seamless connectivity across IoT devices.
By harnessing AI and through a unified web interface, you’ll control lighting, temperature, security, and many appliances all in one place simply by thinking about it. Or it could detect your mood and recommend the best suitable music or beverage.
Smart homes will be intuitive, allowing custom automation routines and access to all systems remotely to provide a truly responsive experience tailored to your unique requirements.
Web4 is heading towards a purely intuitive interaction between humans and machines.
This is where Brain-computer interfaces will come into play.
Direct human brain and computer interaction
With Web4, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) will advance direct communication between our minds and digital platforms.
This breakthrough technology has the potential to reshape industries, allowing users to engage with systems through thought alone.
Dr. Christoph Guger, Founder and CEO of g.tec medical engineering GmbH, a leading company in brain-computer interfaces (BCI) and biosignal processing, stated: “BCI systems will be used more and more for new applications in the coming years. This ranges from neurorehabilitation with stroke patients and others, to the assessment of command following in patients with disorders of consciousness to guidance in neurosurgery with high-gamma mapping systems.”
BCIs will enable direct communication between the brain’s electrical activity and external devices. Sensors will interpret and capture signals between the brain’s neurons and send this information to an output device. This could be an invasive or wearable device or even a robotic limb.
The end result will allow those thoughts to be translated directly into actions, so the potential here is enormous.
This is not science fiction. For example, Elon Musk’s Neuralink has been making great strides with its PRIME (Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface) study project, a pioneering medical procedure involving placing an intracortical BCI implant in the human brain.
The Neuralink BCI device is engineered to capture neural activity through 1,024 electrodes spread across 64 flexible leads, or “threads,” thinner than a human hair. This technology will enable people with quadriplegia to control external devices with their thoughts.
According to Manar Alohaly, the Senior Research, Development & Innovation Executive of the Saudi Information Technology Company: “The brain-computer interface (BCI) market is experiencing significant growth and is projected to increase to $6.2 billion by 2030.”
Will BCI steal our thoughts?
However, BCI technology is not without its challenges, such as privacy and security implications—brain tapping, misleading stimuli, and adversarial attacks are inherent risks that all need sufficient guardrails in place.
Such new technology projects bring with them major ethical concerns, such as the misuse of sensitive neuro data that reveals private emotions and intentions.
Combining this data with personal information risks invasive profiling, influencing decisions about individuals based on potentially inaccurate insights.
Furthermore, limited transparency and increased surveillance are further challenges that will also require regulatory oversight.
Real-world applications of Web4
The healthcare sector is predicted to benefit enormously from Web4. The remote monitoring of patients allows healthcare providers to track vital signs and health metrics in real-time from afar.
A good example is Tricog, which is based in Singapore and works on remote cardiac diagnosis to empower healthcare providers.
With AI-driven diagnostics, medical conditions can be detected earlier, and predictive analytics offer personalized, proactive care solutions.
Transportation is another sector ready to reap the gains from Web4. In conjunction with AI and IoT, deploying Web4 technology will provide the ability to improve transportation safety, and optimize traffic flow.
It will be key to advancing connected cars, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication. Cars will seamlessly share real-time data—traffic, road hazards, weather—optimizing routes and boosting safety while enriching the driving experience.
With Web4, it will be possible to integrate vehicles with smart traffic systems and IoT devices, driving the development of autonomous vehicles and intelligent transportation networks.
Another example is Pass App, a revolutionary smart wallet focused on turning Web3 from complex and overwhelming to seamless and personalized with AI. According to Josh Ben-David, the Chief Product Officer at Pass App, “AI is the new UI that will drive mass adoption of Web3 in the coming years.“
To Josh, “Web4 is read + write + own + delegate. That’s why Pass App is a Web4 wallet living in a Web3 world.”
Final thoughts: A Web4 prediction
Does this excite or frighten you? Web4 envisions a future in which traditional web browsers are replaced by APIs, which will become the core tenet of digital communication.
In this vision, Blockchain will play an integral part, especially in Web4 crypto, although its role in Web4 will extend beyond securing cryptocurrency. It will become a digital vault for all online transactions, ensuring safer and more trustworthy interactions.
Businesses will need to establish clear terms to specify who is involved and the governing jurisdiction in virtual deals. That’s certainly exciting.
On the downside, potential surveillance and manipulation of user behavior, increased vulnerability to cyber-attacks, and data protection risks, already present in Web3, will intensify with Web4 as reliance on virtual worlds increases.
But truly, it isn’t just about technological advancement—it’s about making tech more intuitive and human-centered.
Ultimately, the next Web version will be inherently designed to anticipate your needs and improve how you live and work – smarter, quicker, and far more user-friendly. So, buckle up! And let’s hope Web 4 delivers.
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