Where are we in the AI x Crypto hype cycle? w/ Ben Roy & Nicholas | Ep. 61

Is AI the breakthrough crypto needs? Or is it just in need of good UX? In this first episode of Internet Explorers for 2025, co-hosts Jess Sloss and Josh Cornelius are joined by Ben Roy and Nicholas for a wide-ranging exploration of the metas, tools, and ideas reshaping the Internet. This episode covers: AI Agents as Proto-Corporations: Are we seeing the birth of a new organizational paradigm? Inspired by Scott Belsky’s Cognicos, the team dives into AI-native coordination and its parallels to DAOs. Crypto’s UX Problem: From confusing wallet setups to network hurdles, crypto adoption continues to struggle. Is 2025 the year this finally changes? The Fat Protocol vs. Fat Apps Debate: Exploring where value truly accrues as foundational models evolve and application layers innovate. Dream Time Theory: What if this moment is the internet’s greatest inflection point? We reflect on Robin Hanson’s idea of a generational turning point, shaped by transformative tech like crypto and AI. Whether you're a builder, an AI skeptic, or just curious about the intersections of decentralized networks and artificial intelligence, this episode provides thoughtful insights into the possibilities—and challenges—of the year ahead. Chapters: 00:00 - Big Questions for 2025 09:00 - Rabbit Holes from the Break 13:00 - AI as New Corporations 22:00 - Solving Crypto UX Woes 32:00 - Where's the Value: Protocols vs. Apps 36:00 - Dream Time: An Inflection Point 42:00 - Personal Brands in AI Economies 48:00 - Reimagining Coordination on-Chain 54:00 - Future of Networked Incentives 60:00 - Closing Reflections on Focus Internet Explorers is a weekly rundown show where extremely online individuals broadly explore (romanticize, even) new consumer internet experiences. Join us⁠ live on Twitter/X, Fridays 10am PT / 1pm ET. Seed Club Twitter: https://x.com/seedclubhq Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/internet-explorers/id1756599282 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iJk3xZoij7pVhlNbTP9qS?si=4cda0ac044dc4c6a Pods.media: https://pods.media/internet-explorers