Opening Keynote by Sir Tim Berners-Lee

He created the web to break down silos, but big tech built them up again. Now, Sir Tim Berners-Lee reveals his plan to fix it for good.

#1about 4 minutes

The personal history and context behind the web's creation

The frustration of accessing fragmented documentation across incompatible computer systems at CERN directly inspired the invention of the World Wide Web.

#2about 2 minutes

Designing the core protocols of the early web

The web was built on three core, intentionally familiar standards: URIs for addressing, HTTP for transport, and a simple HTML for documents.

#3about 3 minutes

How blogging and open linking created early web value

The ability for anyone to publish and link to content created a virtuous circle of creation and a "long tail" of value from niche creators.

#4about 1 minute

How Web 2.0 platforms created powerful but isolated data silos

While JavaScript and APIs made web apps more powerful, they led to centralized platforms where user data is trapped and cannot be shared between services.

#5about 2 minutes

Introducing the Solid protocol for a decentralized web 3.0

Solid aims to fix data silos by providing a universal API, global single sign-on, and standardized authorization, giving users control over their data.

#6about 3 minutes

Changing the application architecture with Solid pods

The Solid architecture simplifies development by moving business logic into the browser and using a generic, application-agnostic data store called a pod.

#7about 6 minutes

Building an ecosystem of interoperable Solid applications

With a stable protocol, developers can build competing but interoperable applications that read and write to the same user-controlled data pods.

#8about 5 minutes

Analyzing the risks and architecture of current AI models

Today's large language models are controlled by large corporations, raising concerns about control, alignment, and the lack of user data privacy.

#9about 3 minutes

A new architecture for personal AI using Solid pods

By fine-tuning large language models with data from a personal Solid pod, AI can become a private, personalized tool that works for the user.

#10about 3 minutes

Empowering developers to build beneficent applications

Developers have the unique power to build a better web using protocols like Solid to create applications that truly help and empower users.

#11about 2 minutes

Reflecting on early design choices and the problem with DNS

The Domain Name System (DNS) was a design mistake because its commercialization created a messy, slow, and centralized point of failure.

#12about 2 minutes

Settling the tabs vs spaces debate and the web's growth

The definitive answer to the tabs versus spaces debate is to use spaces for Python due to semantic indentation, while also reflecting on the web's unpredictable growth.