UIM Protocol Podcast¶

[The following is a transcript of the podcast episode]

0:00: Ever try to like get your smart assistant to book something online?
0:04: Oh tell me about it.
0:05: It's like pulling teeth.
0:06: Why is that still so clunky.
0:07: Yeah it's like the A I is stuck in the dark ages of the internet like trying to stream a movie but you're still on dial up.
0:13: It just doesn't work well.
0:14: Ouch.
0:15: Yeah.
0:16: So what's the issue then?
0:17: Well the way A I currently interacts with websites super inefficient it's like if you had to read a whole book by translating each individual letter one by one that sounds awful and slow.
0:30: A I is basically doing that right now with web scraping and all these clunky workarounds.
0:34: So we need a faster a more reliable way for A I to talk to websites.
0:37: Exactly.
0:38: Enter U I right.
0:39: Unified intent mediator protocol.
0:41: Got it.
0:41: U I is like a universal translator.
0:44: So instead of all this fumbling around U I lets A I and websites directly communicate you know understand each other's intentions.
0:53: So instead of teaching A I to like decode the entire internet we're giving it a set of tools and a common language and at the heart of it intense intense.
1:04: Basically imagine a predefined action a website can say hey I offer this book flight intent and the A I doesn't have to struggle to interpret all the messy website code.
1:15: It just says I want to use the book flight intent and boom the website knows exactly what to do smoother faster.
1:20: I like it.
1:21: But are we talking about like a massive library of every single action on the internet?
1:28: That's where things get interesting.
1:29: There are two main approaches being explored centralized versus decentralized.
1:33: One's like a giant digital card catalog and the other is more like A I agents browsing independent bookstores.
1:41: I'm intrigued.
1:42: So centralized first.
1:44: What are we looking at there?
1:45: Picture a single massive repository.
1:48: Every website using U I registers its intents there.
1:52: A I agents can search it to find the specific actions.
1:55: They need one stop shop convenient but a little risky.
2:00: Right.
2:00: Putting all your eggs in one basket.
2:02: What happens if that central repository goes down?
2:04: You're right.
2:05: That's the potential downside single point of failure which is why there's the decentralized approach?
2:11: Ok.
2:11: So how does that work instead of that central repository information is stored directly on each website A I agents would use something similar to like what we use now DNS to find websites more resilient because no single point of failure.
2:25: Right.
2:25: Right.
2:26: So both approaches have their pros and cons.
2:28: It seems like it's early days still.
2:29: Right.
2:30: Still figuring all this out.
2:31: Oh absolutely.
2:32: The draft specification even mentions a potential hybrid approach best of both worlds maybe hybrid.
2:40: Tell me more think of it like this.
2:42: A central directory helps A I agents discover services.
2:47: But the actual interaction happens directly with the website.
2:51: OK.
2:51: So you get the ease of searching with the flexibility of a decentralized system.
2:55: Exactly.
2:55: I'm starting to see the potential here.
2:57: How U I could be a game changer.
2:59: But let's bring it down to earth for a sec.
3:01: How would this work in practice?
3:03: Say I want to buy something online.
3:05: U I changes that.
3:07: How?
3:07: OK.
3:08: So you tell your A I assistant find me the best deal on noise canceling headphones.
3:12: But instead of just searching one website or clumsily scraping data it uses U I to instantly connect with a bunch of retailers simultaneously.
3:20: So like having a personal shopper.
3:22: Exactly.
3:22: And because they're using U I their websites can communicate product info pricing all directly to the A I.
3:29: Makes the whole process incredibly efficient.
3:31: No more digging through endless websites no more comparing prices on a million tabs.
3:35: Precisely.
3:36: I like where this is going.
3:37: But we've all heard the stories right?
3:39: A I running wild.
3:40: How do we make sure it's using this power responsibly?
3:43: Well U I has built in security and control mechanisms.
3:46: OK.
3:46: Good good.
3:47: And it all revolves around something called a policy adherence token or pat A pat like a digital hall pass for A I pretty much and A I needs to obtain a Pat before it can use a particular intent on a website.
4:00: It's like a key that unlocks specific actions.
4:03: So websites still have control.
4:04: It's not just open season for A I to do whatever it wants.
4:07: Exactly.
4:08: And that's where something called the open digital rights language where ODR comes in ODL at PAT.
4:15: Lots of acronyms today.
4:16: we'll unpack that one next.
4:17: Ok.
4:18: So back to ODR L like a digital content.
4:21: Yeah exactly.
4:21: It's how websites set the ground rules for A I.
4:25: So it's not just like hoping A I will behave itself with ODR.
4:30: Website owners can specify you know exactly how their data and services can be used.
4:34: So they can say how often an intent can be used what data the A I can access.
4:39: Yeah even implement billing systems.
4:41: So this is starting to sound more like well run systems.
4:44: That's the idea.
4:45: And this is where pa t the digital hall pass comes back in to use an intent.
4:49: The A I has to show a Pat proving it's allowed access you know according to the website's rules.
4:54: So no Pat no service.
4:56: Exactly.
4:57: That's how websites keep control.
4:59: Even with A I in the mix it's all about responsible access this whole system.
5:04: It's like what building a secure infrastructure for A I on the web.
5:07: Yes.
5:08: And think about what this could mean.
5:10: For something like say online shopping.
5:13: Oh yeah.
5:14: Ok.
5:14: Imagine a world where you've got an A I shopping assistant that just knows what you want instead of being bombarded with irrelevant stuff.
5:21: Exactly.
5:22: And because all these online retailers are using U I your A I assistant can compare everything instantly.
5:28: Products prices reviews across what dozens of sites all at once.
5:33: It's like having a superhuman shopping buddy.
5:35: No more.
5:36: Endless scrolling.
5:37: Ok.
5:37: I'm sold.
5:38: But what are those of us who aren't like tech wizards?
5:41: That's a great point.
5:42: But that's the thing about U I it has the potential to make the web easier for everyone even if you don't know all the ins and outs of websites and stuff.
5:49: Right.
5:50: Imagine for example booking a doctor's appointment.
5:53: Oh yeah those websites can be a nightmare with U I.
5:56: You could just tell your A I assistant schedule a doctor's appointment for next week and it just does it.
6:03: Wow that would be amazing.
6:05: Especially for people with disabilities or anyone who struggles with tech.
6:08: Absolutely breaks down those barriers.
6:10: Makes the web more inclusive.
6:12: Yeah I love that.
6:13: And it's not just about convenience it's about empowering people to actually use the internet confidently.
6:18: Ok.
6:18: Yeah that's huge.
6:19: This is what tech about.
6:21: Exactly.
6:22: But like anything new it has its challenges.
6:25: We've got to make sure it's accessible to everyone.
6:27: Not just the big tech companies.
6:29: Exactly.
6:29: If only a handful of companies control it it could actually make inequality worse.
6:34: So it needs to be developed in an open way with everyone at the table.
6:38: Exactly.
6:39: It's about democratizing access to information to opportunity.
6:43: It's like we're building a new digital city.
6:45: I like that.
6:46: We want to make sure it's designed for everyone.
6:47: Yes.
6:48: And just like building a city it takes planning collaboration and a shared vision.
6:53: Absolutely.
6:54: So how do we get there from where we are now with U I still in its early stages to this more inclusive future?
7:02: I think the first step is talking about it having open and honest conversations getting everyone on the same page policymakers tech leaders researchers the public everyone because it's going to impact all of us.
7:14: Exactly.
7:15: We need to talk about the good and the bad the ethical stuff and we need to do that now before it's too late to change.
7:21: Course absolutely.
7:22: We have to be proactive in shaping the future.
7:24: We want responsible innovation right?
7:26: Embracing the potential but being cautious and that brings us to another big one.
7:31: Security.
7:32: The million dollar question with A I we're talking about giving A I more access.
7:36: Of course security is a concern but that's where those safeguards come in.
7:40: Right.
7:40: Exactly.
7:40: Patties and ODR they're there to give websites control over how A I interacts with their stuff like building a house with strong locks.
7:49: Exactly.
7:50: It can be welcoming and secure.
7:53: So U I has huge potential but it's not a magic solution.
7:58: Exactly.
7:58: It's a powerful tool and we need to proceed carefully having those open conversations every step of the way.
8:04: Exactly.
8:05: It feels like U I could be a turning point but it's not just up to the developers to figure this out is it.
8:10: You're right.
8:10: This is where our listeners come in.
8:12: Wait really?
8:13: What can our listeners do?
8:14: I thought we were just like along for the ride U I has the potential to change so much about our lives how we shop access health care you name it but it's still being shaped.
8:25: So there's still time to influence it.
8:26: Absolutely.
8:27: And the more people understand U I the more they can help shape it.
8:31: Yes.
8:32: Learn about it talk about it make your voice heard.
8:34: Exactly.
8:35: And this project is designed to be collaborative.
8:38: So they want our feedback they're asking for it.
8:40: Share your ideas get involved.
8:42: I love that.
8:43: OK.
8:43: Before we get too carried away let's talk about where things stand right now right.
8:47: So still a work in progress technical stuff is being finalized.
8:51: There's a lot of experimentation going on.
8:54: So not quite ready for prime time not quite but we're starting to see some real world pilot program.
9:00: Really?
9:02: What are people doing with it?
9:03: A few retailers are integrating it into their platforms testing it out seeing how it improves A I powered shopping.
9:10: Those A I shopping assistants we talked about they might be closer than we think.
9:14: What else.
9:15: Travel booking customer service even health care.
9:19: It's like the early days of the iphone.
9:20: Exactly.
9:21: And those early adopters they were crucial.
9:24: The same goes for U I.
9:25: The more people who use it give feedback the faster it'll develop.
9:29: Makes sense.
9:30: This is a really exciting time to be following U I.
9:32: But we've got to be realistic too.
9:34: It's not a magic bullet it has its limitations and we need to keep those ethical considerations in mind making sure it benefits everyone.
9:41: Absolutely.
9:41: This is about humanity not just technology so big question for it.
9:46: If U I takes off what happens to the web as we know it?
9:51: Oh that is a big question.
9:54: It could be huge.
9:56: Think about it.
9:56: The web right now.
9:58: It's designed for us for humans.
10:00: We click we scroll we read.
10:02: But what if A I becomes a primary citizen of the web?
10:06: Are you saying U I could change the entire online landscape potentially?
10:10: Yes.
10:11: If A I can directly access and understand the information on websites who knows what's possible?
10:18: A I powered search engines that actually get us talking to websites instead of using clunky interfaces.
10:24: The possibilities are really exciting.
10:26: I'm getting a little bit of a like nervous excitement about all this.
10:29: Me too.
10:30: It's like standing on the edge of something brand new.
10:32: A little exhilarating a little daunting.
10:34: Exactly.
10:34: But it's definitely going to be interesting.
10:35: So it's like we're watching the trailer for this crazy sci fi movie.
10:38: Right.
10:39: And we're all on the edge of our seats waiting to see what happens next.
10:42: But ok let's rewind a little bit back to reality.
10:45: What needs to happen to take U I M from experiment to like mainstream.
10:52: Well for starters we need the big players to get on board.
10:56: Yeah.
10:56: Imagine if like a Google Amazon Microsoft the Big guns.
11:00: Exactly.
11:01: Imagine if they embraced U I integrated it into everything they do that would definitely get everyone's attention right?
11:08: And the good news is a lot of them are already involved in developing this and other A I standard.
11:13: So things are moving definitely but it can't just be about big tech right?
11:17: What about everybody else?
11:18: We need to make sure U I works for smaller businesses developers regular people.
11:23: Exactly.
11:23: If we want a truly inclusive web everyone needs to be able to use it.
11:27: So how do we make that happen?
11:28: Well we need to make U I easy to use right?
11:31: Build tools and resources so anyone can adopt it regardless of their tech skills.
11:36: Exactly.
11:37: Democratize access so to speak I like that make it available to everyone.
11:41: But even with the best tools people still need to know what it is right?
11:44: That's right.
11:44: Education is key the more people understand U I the more likely they are to embrace it right?
11:50: Because knowledge is power.
11:51: Right.
11:52: Exactly.
11:52: So we need more resources tutorials workshops make it easy to learn and not just the technical stuff we need to talk about the ethical side the social impact because ultimately U I is a tool and like any tool it can be used for good or bad.
12:09: It's up to us to decide how we want to use it.
12:11: It really is we have to be mindful of the consequences make sure it's being used to benefit everyone.
12:16: So that's the goal right?
12:17: To create a better future for everybody.
12:20: That's what we're hoping for.
12:21: And that's where honestly our listeners come in.
12:24: All right what can they do?
12:26: Stay informed ask questions talk about it start a conversation.
12:30: Exactly.
12:31: The future isn't set in stone.
12:33: We all have a role to play in shaping it.
12:35: I like that.
12:35: It's a collaborative effort.
12:36: Well on that note I think we've reached the end of our deep dive into U I.
12:41: It's been a a lot to process.
12:44: Yeah but super fascinating.
12:46: It really feels like we're on the cusp of something big here.
12:49: We really do.
12:49: This could change everything about how we use the internet and it's exciting to think about where it might lead.
12:55: It certainly is.
12:56: So to all our listeners out there.
12:57: Thank you as always for joining us.
12:59: Thank you.
13:00: And remember the future is in our hands stay curious stay engaged and we'll see you next time for another deep dive.