"A Conversation Between RM and ChatGPT on Digital Space: Disembodied Markets"
My most profound thoughts often surface post-run. Yesterday, our team call delved into the realms of intents, permissionless markets, and the concept of 'headless.' Running ignites internal debates and dialogues within me.
So during an euphoric runner's high—yes, this part's a bit of creative freedom—I coined the concept of 'disembodied markets.'
User?
In web3 circles, we love to talk about the user”. A revelation hit me: Have I been too narrow in viewing web3 interactions solely through the lens of 'RM the user' rather than 'RM the business'? This introspection led me to a hypothesis: perhaps Web3's appeal stems from its very nature as a B2B interoperable, permissionless, onchain verified internet. Let's consider, for instance, a farmer or trader, not just as individual users but as business entities.
Headless
As I've previously mused, our products are akin to modular bricks—smart contracts, if you will. These contracts link to user interfaces (UIs), the conduits through which many of us engage with the B2B web. However, a growing trend leans towards alternative UIs (cue the geo-blocking issues) or the integration of smart contracts into diverse UIs, like wallets facilitating Uniswap transactions. In this light, Uniswap transforms into a 'ghost kitchen,' an epitome of a headless market or application.
The heart of today's web lies not in the polished UIs, but in the raw power of headless products like smart contracts and protocols. As a designer, it pains me to admit this, but history bears witness: bots, not humans, are the superior web3 users. The bot proliferation in web3 isn't a problem—it's a testament to the strength of headless products.
Here's a tip for builders: Invest in your documentation. It's the lifeblood of your protocol, the key to true headlessness and seamless integration. Remember, we're all a bit lazy; excellent documentation can make your product the go-to choice for integration.
Permissionless
Permissionlessness in web3 demands composability and interoperability. Think of building with 'bricks'—your smart contracts—allowing for the creation of intricate, custom scripts or maybe call them strategies. This ecosystem nurtures permissionless innovation, where the wildest, most lucrative ideas can take root. In short: no permission, no limits.
Disembodied
Disembodied markets mark a shift from traditional structures to dynamic, responsive forms. Thriving on their permissionless nature and headless technologies, they are hotbeds for innovation and competition. The essence here is permissionless participation—everyone can join, innovate, and contribute without central authority approval. TLDR: If there is some money to be made, some bot will go after it.
Intentional
In these markets, power resides with the users, their intents, and prompts shaping market responses. The tilt towards headless and permissionless markets indicates a fertile ground for profitable, specialized strategies. This makes me think a lot about like concierges on steroids.
We're witnessing a transition from supply-driven models to those responsive to demand. The rise of just-in-time solutions, like generative UI, exemplifies this trend. Tailored solutions spring up in direct response to user needs, often through the capabilities of sophisticated bots. If you have a set of diverse LEGO bricks, its just a matter of imagination how to build a set out of it.
Just-In-Time
The fusion of permissionless, headless, and user-centric dynamics leads to just-in-time solutions or strategies, crafted precisely for immediate user needs (we might call them prompts or intents though). Here, every request potentially births a custom solution, akin to rule 34 (if it exists online, there is porn of it), but in our world: if there's a request, there's likely a bot eager to fulfill it.
So what?
For us, the imagineers, solvers, and builders, the challenge is adapting to a bot-centric internet, reimagining interaction models and interfaces. Look at the AI landscape: ChatGPT is essentially a wrapper around a complex strategy. Our future tasks involve composing strategies and selecting the right ones for users, a nuanced dance of design and technology.
The future of these permissionless markets with headless products and services, executing user intentions and prompts, is on one side about technological innovation but most likely requires to expand, reimagine, prototype how we interact, transact, and build trust in the digital realm. How do I select the right strategy to be executed?
But here's a thought that keeps me up at night: I, as a user, often struggle to articulate exactly what I want. Here lies the puzzling core of our journey into these disembodied markets. A bet on disembodied markets, a world of headless products (smart contracts and protocols) in a multilayered, permissionless market world, where we deliver optimized strategies for our users to execute, really requires us to know what we want. This is no small challenge at all.
