Untangling Web3

Jack Davies & Alec Burns

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TECHNOLOGY
UPDATED WEEKLY

The podcast that simplifies tomorrow's tech, today. Untangling Web3 dives deep into the world of the next-generation Internet, exploring the groundbreaking technologies, projects, and ideas shaping the future of the Web. Join us as we demystify the concepts behind Web3 and learn how you can be relevant in this radical digital and societal transformation. This series is hosted and produced by Jack Davies and Alec Burns.

3D AGO

#128 Untangling: Verifiable Compute w/ Leo Fan

As AI, cloud infrastructure, and blockchain systems scale, one critical issue remains unresolved: trust in compute. Today, most computation—whether powering AI models or executing financial transactions—operates as a black box. In this episode of Untangling Web3, Leo Fan, founder and CEO of Cysic, explores how verifiable compute and zero-knowledge proofs can transform computation into something that is not just fast and scalable, but provably correct. Key highlights: Why Verifiable Compute Matters in an AI-Driven World: Modern compute infrastructure has been optimized for performance and scale, not for verifiability. As computation moved from local machines to centralized cloud providers and data centers, users increasingly lost visibility into how results are produced. This becomes critical with AI systems, where outputs are often trusted without insight into the underlying process. Verifiable compute introduces a new trust model: instead of trusting a provider, users can independently verify that a computation was executed correctly.Zero-Knowledge Proofs as the Foundation of Trustless Compute Zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs enable computation to produce a compact, cryptographic “proof” alongside its output, certifying correctness without requiring re-execution. This transforms compute into something that can be verified quickly—even on low-power devices—while being executed on high-performance infrastructure. In blockchain systems, this replaces the need for every validator to re-run all computations, dramatically improving scalability. In AI, it allows developers to prove that a specific model, input, and workflow were used, even if the underlying system remains partially opaque.From Black Boxes to Verifiable Systems: Verifiable compute bridges AI, blockchain, and decentralized systems, enabling a future where critical workflows—financial transactions, autonomous agents, and enterprise decision-making—can be trusted without relying on centralized intermediaries. This unlocks new architectures where compute happens off-chain at scale, while proofs are verified on-chain or by distributed networks. However, significant challenges remain: performance overhead in proof generation, developer complexity in integrating ZK systems, and limited user awareness of the need for verifiability. Verifiable compute represents a fundamental shift in how digital systems are designed and trusted. By combining zero-knowledge proofs, blockchain, and advanced AI infrastructure, computation can move from opaque black boxes to transparent, provable systems. As AI agents take on more responsibility and automation expands across industries, the ability to verify outcomes will become essential—not optional. The long-term vision is clear: a world where trust is no longer assumed, but mathematically guaranteed. -- Learn more about Web3 at: https://untanglingweb3.com/ -- Untangling Web3 is brought to you by hosts Jack Davies and Alec Burns, with music by Daniel Paigge. Got a question or topic suggestion? Send us an email at theuntanglingweb3podcast@gmail.com. Love what you're hearing? Show your support by becoming a subscriber and don't forget to leave us a stellar review. The views we express here are our own, and do not represent the views of our employers. Nothing discussed or stated in the show should be considered advice.

45 min
MAR 31

#127 Untangling: Humanoid Robots w/ Peter Corke

Humanoid robots are rapidly moving from science fiction into reality, powered by breakthroughs in robotics, AI, and artificial intelligence. In this episode of Untangling Web3, Professor Peter Corke, one of the world’s leading robotics experts, breaks down what robots really are, how they’ve evolved from factory arms to human-like machines, and how close we are to truly intelligent, autonomous humanoids. From perception systems powered by AI to the economic and ethical implications of automation, this episode offers a grounded, technical, and deeply insightful look at the future of robotics. Key highlights: What Actually Defines a “Real” Robot: A robot is not just a machine that moves—it is a system built around three core components: perception, planning, and actuation. Perception enables robots to understand their environment using sensors like cameras and lidar, increasingly powered by AI and deep learning. Planning determines how a robot achieves a goal, breaking complex tasks into actionable steps in real time. Actuation executes those plans through motors and physical movement. These three components operate continuously in a loop, often hundreds or thousands of times per second, enabling autonomy. Why Humanoid Robots Exist in Human Form: Humanoid robots are designed to resemble humans not just for aesthetic reasons, but for practical and economic ones. The entire physical world, from tools, buildings, and infrastructure, has been designed for the human body. A robot with two arms, two legs, and human-like dexterity can immediately operate within this environment without requiring redesign. The Challenge of Trust, Safety, and Physical AI When AI operates in the digital world, errors are often harmless. In robotics, mistakes can have real-world consequences—damage, injury, or worse. This raises critical challenges around reliability, verification, and safety. Ensuring that robots behave predictably and safely in dynamic environments remains one of the biggest barriers to widespread adoption.Humanoid robots represent the convergence of robotics, AI, and artificial intelligence into systems that can perceive, reason, and act in the physical world. While the technology is advancing rapidly, significant challenges remain in reliability, safety, and societal impact. The future of robotics will not be defined by a single breakthrough, but by the integration of multiple disciplines, from deep learning to neuroscience. As machines become more capable, the key question is no longer just what robots can do, but how humanity chooses to integrate them into society. -- Learn more about Web3 at: https://untanglingweb3.com/ -- Untangling Web3 is brought to you by hosts Jack Davies and Alec Burns, with music by Daniel Paigge. Got a question or topic suggestion? Send us an email at theuntanglingweb3podcast@gmail.com. Love what you're hearing? Show your support by becoming a subscriber and don't forget to leave us a stellar review. The views we express here are our own, and do not represent the views of our employers. Nothing discussed or stated in the show should be considered advice.

57 min
FEB 26

#126 Untangling: The New Space Race

In this week’s episode, we're zooming out - literally - to explore the new space race unfolding before our eyes. With companies like SpaceX leading the charge, and global powers like China and Russia ramping up ambitions, the conversation dives into how space technology, orbital infrastructure, and interplanetary flight are moving from sci-fi fantasy to strategic reality. From Moon bases to Mars colonies and even AI data centers in orbit, this episode asks whether we are entering a new era of competition for dominance beyond Earth. Key Points Discussed: Moon vs Mars: The Strategic Pivot in the Space Race: Elon Musk’s long-term vision of colonizing Mars has recently shifted toward a more immediate and achievable target: the Moon. Alec explains how lower gravity, accessible water ice for rocket fuel, and reduced escape velocity make the Moon an ideal staging ground for deeper space flight into the universe. Rather than launching massive payloads directly from Earth, building infrastructure on the Moon could dramatically lower costs and enable larger-scale exploration missions.AI, Data Centers, and Orbital Infrastructure: One of the most futuristic ideas discussed is the concept of orbital data centers powered by solar energy. With AI driving massive demand for compute and cooling, placing data centers in space could offer abundant energy, passive cooling, and fewer regulatory hurdles. The episode explores how AI, satellites, and space technology could converge—blurring the lines between aerospace engineering and digital infrastructure, and turning orbit into the next frontier for critical tech systems.Global Competition and the Return of Geopolitics in Space: This isn’t just about innovation—it’s about power. The hosts unpack how China, Russia, and the U.S. are all accelerating lunar and orbital ambitions, reigniting a geopolitical race reminiscent of the Cold War. With NASA’s Artemis program, SpaceX’s government contracts, and China’s plans for a lunar research station in the 2030s, space is once again becoming a symbol of dominance. As the world shifts toward a multipolar order, the competition for strategic position beyond Earth may define the next decades of global influence.The new space race isn’t just about planting flags. It’s about infrastructure, sovereignty, AI, and the future of human civilization. As private companies and governments invest billions into lunar bases, orbital data centers, and deep-space missions, the boundary between science fiction and reality is shrinking fast. Whether driven by survival, competition, or pure ambition, humanity’s push into the universe is accelerating, and the next 10 to 20 years could reshape not just space technology, but life on Earth itself. Watch this space. -- Learn more about Web3 at: https://untanglingweb3.com/ -- Untangling Web3 is brought to you by hosts Jack Davies and Alec Burns, with music by Daniel Paigge. Got a question or topic suggestion? Send us an email at theuntanglingweb3podcast@gmail.com. Love what you're hearing? Show your support by becoming a subscriber and don't forget to leave us a stellar review. The views we express here are our own, and do not represent the views of our employers. Nothing discussed or stated in the show should be considered advice.

34 min
JAN 28

#125 Untangling: The 'AI Bubble'

In this week’s episode of the Untangling Web3 podcast, we tackle one of the biggest narratives dominating tech and global markets right now: the so-called AI bubble. With headlines predicting an imminent crash in artificial intelligence stocks and skepticism mounting around LLMs, the hosts unpack whether we’re witnessing genuine over-exuberance, or simply the growing pains of a transformative technology. Drawing on real market signals, user adoption, and infrastructure realities, this episode cuts through the hype to examine what’s really going on beneath the surface Key Points Discussed: Why People Are Calling It an AI Bubble: The episode explores the core arguments behind the bubble narrative, including sky-high valuations, heavy reliance on a handful of AI-driven tech stocks, and the dominance of companies like Nvidia in propping up broader markets. Alec and Jack discuss concerns around circular investment models, where capital flows between AI companies and hardware providers, raising questions about whether real value is being created or simply recycled on balance sheets.The Reality of AI Adoption and LLM Progress: Despite investor anxiety, the hosts highlight a stark contrast at the product level: LLMs are improving rapidly and becoming deeply embedded in everyday workflows. From replacing search to enhancing productivity, AI tools are delivering tangible value to consumers and businesses alike. The conversation emphasizes that while enterprise-level ROI may take longer to materialize, dependence on AI systems is already a reality—and unlikely to reverse.Hidden Risks: Chips, Energy, and Global Dependencies: Beyond market sentiment, the episode dives into structural risks that could act as real pressure points for the AI boom. These include reliance on a single chip manufacturer (TSMC), rising energy and water demands from data centers, and geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China. Unlike valuation debates, these are physical constraints that could trigger disruption regardless of how strong AI demand remains.Is there an AI bubble? Possibly—but not in the simplistic way the headlines suggest. While a short-term correction in tech markets may be inevitable, Alec and Jack argue that artificial intelligence itself is here to stay. The real story is one of scale, infrastructure, and timing: massive long-term bets paired with very real near-term constraints. Whether markets cool or surge next, AI and LLMs are already too deeply woven into the digital economy to disappear. -- Learn more about Web3 at: https://untanglingweb3.com/ -- Untangling Web3 is brought to you by hosts Jack Davies and Alec Burns, with music by Daniel Paigge. Got a question or topic suggestion? Send us an email at theuntanglingweb3podcast@gmail.com. Love what you're hearing? Show your support by becoming a subscriber and don't forget to leave us a stellar review. The views we express here are our own, and do not represent the views of our employers. Nothing discussed or stated in the show should be considered advice.

44 min
JAN 8

#124 Untangling: 2025 Review

In this annual 2025 review special, Alec and Jack take a step back to reflect on one of the most transformative years yet for crypto, AI, LLMs, and digital assets. From Bitcoin’s institutional turning point to AI becoming a daily tool for millions, this episode captures how Web3 and emerging technologies moved from niche experimentation into the mainstream. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about what actually mattered in 2025, and what it tells us about the road ahead. Key Points Discussed: Crypto and Digital Assets Go Mainstream (But Not Without Volatility): The hosts unpack why 2025 marked a legitimacy breakthrough for Bitcoin and crypto, driven by ETF approvals, institutional adoption, and a more crypto-friendly U.S. political environment. At the same time, Bitcoin behaved more like a risk asset than a safe haven, reacting strongly to macro events like tariffs and global market uncertainty. A major standout was the explosive growth of stablecoins, which quietly found real product–market fit by enabling faster, always-on financial settlement infrastructure .AI and LLMs Become Ubiquitous: If crypto found legitimacy, AI found ubiquity. 2025 was the year AI tools—powered by increasingly capable LLMs—became everyday utilities for individuals and enterprises alike. From workplace copilots to creative tools, AI shifted from novelty to necessity. The episode explores how rapid competition between OpenAI, Google, and others drove massive improvements in reasoning, context length, and cost efficiency, while also flooding the internet with AI-generated content and reshaping how people trust information online .Wearables, Robotics, and the Next Computing Shift: Beyond software, 2025 hinted at what comes next in hardware. Meta’s smart glasses helped prove the viability of AI-powered wearables, while humanoid robots moved from labs into early industrial testing. From BMW factory trials to Tesla’s Optimus ambitions, the conversation highlights how automation and AI-native machines are beginning to integrate into real-world workflows—setting the stage for much bigger changes in the years ahead .Looking back, 2025 wasn’t about a single breakthrough, it was about consolidation, legitimacy, and scale. Crypto became harder to ignore, AI and LLMs became unavoidable, and digital assets quietly embedded themselves into global financial plumbing. As Alec and Jack reflect, the pace of change is accelerating, making predictions harder, but also making the future more fascinating than ever. This episode captures a pivotal moment before the next wave hits, setting the tone for what could be an even more disruptive year ahead. -- Learn more about Web3 at: https://untanglingweb3.com/ -- Untangling Web3 is brought to you by hosts Jack Davies and Alec Burns, with music by Daniel Paigge. Got a question or topic suggestion? Send us an email at theuntanglingweb3podcast@gmail.com. Love what you're hearing? Show your support by becoming a subscriber and don't forget to leave us a stellar review. The views we express here are our own, and do not represent the views of our employers. Nothing discussed or stated in the show should be considered advice.

1 hr
11/19/2025

#123 Untangling: Meta AI Glasses (Review)

In this week’s episode of the Untangling Web3 podcast, we dive into Alec’s hands-on review of the new Meta AI Glasses v2 — Meta’s latest step toward merging AI and AR into everyday tech. Fresh from attending Meta’s launch event in California, Alec shares his firsthand impressions of how these next-generation smart glasses blend voice-controlled AI, contextual awareness, and seamless design to create what Mark Zuckerberg calls “the next mobile interface.” From hands-free recording to real-time translation, this episode explores where these glasses succeed — and where they still fall short. Key Points Discussed: First Impressions and Use Cases: Alec shares his early experiences using the Meta AI Glasses, highlighting their intuitive voice commands, sleek design, and surprisingly good photo and video quality. While the AI assistant can perform simple contextual tasks — like identifying objects or fetching quick answers — it still falls short of full autonomy. The glasses excel in recording and hands-free content creation, making them ideal for creators, travelers, and anyone wanting to stay present without constantly using their phone.AR, Audio, and Intelligent Context: The hosts explore how Meta’s AI and AR features bring subtle layers of digital intelligence into the real world. Built-in microphones and bone-conduction speakers allow for private listening, live translation, and contextual responses from Meta’s LLaMA AI model. Alec demonstrates how the glasses can “see” and describe surroundings, respond to voice commands, and even play music — though full contextual awareness and live streaming of visual data are still in development.Meta’s Vision and the Future of Wearable Tech: Beyond the gadget itself, Alec and Jack unpack Zuckerberg’s long-term vision for a post-smartphone future powered by wearable AI. They discuss how Meta’s hardware strategy — combining smart glasses, neural input devices, and the company’s AI ecosystem — could one day replace traditional screens. With an upcoming SDK for third-party developers, the potential for apps like note-taking, live translation, and real-time guidance could transform how we interact with both technology and the world around us.The Meta AI Glasses v2 are a bold step toward the fusion of AI, AR, and everyday life — a glimpse into the future of personal computing. While the current generation remains limited in scope, its design, integration, and potential applications make it one of the most exciting tech innovations of the year. -- This episode is sponsored by the VeChain foundation. Learn more about VeBetterDAO here: https://vebetterdao.org/ -- Learn more about Web3 at: https://untanglingweb3.com/ -- Untangling Web3 is brought to you by hosts Jack Davies and Alec Burns, with music by Daniel Paigge. Got a question or topic suggestion? Send us an email at theuntanglingweb3podcast@gmail.com. Love what you're hearing? Show your support by becoming a subscriber and don't forget to leave us a stellar review. The views we express here are our own, and do not represent the views of our employers. Nothing discussed or stated in the show should be considered advice.

33 min
11/05/2025

#122 Untangling: Restify

In this week’s episode of the Untangling Web3 podcast, the spotlight is on Alec’s latest venture Restify, a Web3 dApp designed to help users reduce their screen time and improve mental health through microincentives and rewards. Built on blockchain, Restify transforms digital wellness into a game of positive reinforcement, paying users small amounts of crypto for simply staying off their phones. We dive deep into the story behind the app, how it works, and why it could represent a new era of purpose-driven dApps. Key Points Discussed: The Problem: Screen Time and Mental Health in the Digital Age Alec explains how screen addiction and overuse of social media have become major contributors to the global mental health crisis, costing over a trillion dollars annually in lost productivity. Restify’s mission is to flip the script—using blockchain incentives to encourage healthier habits. Instead of punishing overuse, the app rewards users for time spent offline, proving that positive reinforcement can drive long-term behavioral change.How Restify Works and What Makes It Unique: The dApp integrates with a user’s phone to track downtime sessions—periods when the phone isn’t used—and automatically issues microrewards in the VeBetter token. Users can earn small payouts for every minute they stay off-screen, with verified data stored transparently on-chain. Unlike other apps or “digital detox” gadgets, Restify doesn’t block access—it builds self-control through motivation, gamification, and the psychology of reward.Building a Decentralized Wellness Ecosystem: Restify has grown to over 15,000 users and saved more than 160 years of verified screen time. The app’s success comes from Web3’s ability to coordinate global communities quickly, without traditional startup bureaucracy. Beyond screen time, the long-term goal is to evolve into a full mental health dApp—tracking mood logs, integrating an AI wellness assistant, and even partnering with insurers or wellness providers to incentivize healthy behavior at scale.Restify showcases the potential of Web3 beyond speculation—using decentralized apps to create measurable social impact. By aligning financial incentives with wellness goals, it demonstrates how crypto can be used for good, not just profit. tThe future of mental health technology may depend less on new gadgets and more on how we use incentives to encourage balance in a hyperconnected world. -- This episode is sponsored by the VeChain foundation. Learn more about VeBetterDAO here: https://vebetterdao.org/ -- Learn more about Web3 at: https://untanglingweb3.com/ -- Untangling Web3 is brought to you by hosts Jack Davies and Alec Burns, with music by Daniel Paigge. Got a question or topic suggestion? Send us an email at theuntanglingweb3podcast@gmail.com. Love what you're hearing? Show your support by becoming a subscriber and don't forget to leave us a stellar review. The views we express here are our own, and do not represent the views of our employers. Nothing discussed or stated in the show should be considered advice.

39 min
10/22/2025

#121 Untangling: Stablecoins & CBDCs w/ Keir Finlow-Bates

In this episode of Untangling Web3, blockchain researcher and educator Keir Finlow-Bates returns to unpack one of the most critical debates in modern finance—the rise of stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). As digital assets evolve from niche tools for traders into core infrastructure for global payments, this conversation explores how blockchain-based money systems are reshaping the way value moves, who controls it, and what the next era of programmable finance might look like. Key highlights: Why Stablecoins Have Become the Bridge Between Finance and Blockchain: Stablecoins solve two critical problems—volatility and interoperability. They provide a stable medium of exchange that allows individuals and institutions to engage with blockchain networks without the price risk of native tokens like Bitcoin or Ether. At the same time, they act as a universal liquidity layer connecting decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, exchanges, and traditional financial systems.Comparing Stablecoins and CBDCs: Architecture and Control: While both stablecoins and CBDCs represent fiat on the blockchain, their architectures differ fundamentally. Stablecoins like USDC or USDT are issued by private entities that hold reserves—often in treasury bonds or cash equivalents—and provide blockchain tokens on a 1:1 basis. They rely on smart contracts with mint, burn, and freeze functions that grant issuers limited control. CBDCs, in contrast, would be issued directly by central banks.Monetary Philosophy - What Money Really Represents: Fiat currencies are no longer backed by commodities or assets but by government decree and collective belief. Representing fiat digitally on blockchain networks forces society to confront this abstraction. Stablecoins expose the philosophical foundations of money—its value is not intrinsic but agreed upon. By contrast, Bitcoin introduces verifiable scarcity as a digital property, creating a new category of value rooted in cryptographic and computational certainty rather than institutional trust.Stablecoins represent the convergence of traditional finance and blockchain technology, providing the infrastructure for global, programmable money. CBDCs, meanwhile, embody a competing vision—state-issued digital assets designed for control and policy enforcement rather than decentralization. Between these two poles lies the defining question for the next decade of monetary innovation: will the future of money be open, programmable, and user-controlled—or centralized, monitored, and conditional? -- This episode is sponsored by the VeChain foundation. Learn more about VeBetterDAO here: https://vebetterdao.org/ -- Learn more about Web3 at: https://untanglingweb3.com/ -- Untangling Web3 is brought to you by hosts Jack Davies and Alec Burns, with music by Daniel Paigge. Got a question or topic suggestion? Send us an email at theuntanglingweb3podcast@gmail.com. Love what you're hearing? Show your support by becoming a subscriber and don't forget to leave us a stellar review. The views we express here are our own, and do not represent the views of our employers. Nothing discussed or stated in the show should be considered advice.

41 min

The podcast that simplifies tomorrow's tech, today. Untangling Web3 dives deep into the world of the next-generation Internet, exploring the groundbreaking technologies, projects, and ideas shaping the future of the Web. Join us as we demystify the concepts behind Web3 and learn how you can be relevant in this radical digital and societal transformation. This series is hosted and produced by Jack Davies and Alec Burns.

Creator

Jack Davies & Alec Burns
Years Active

2023 - 2026
Episodes

127
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Untangling Web3 2023
Show Website

Untangling Web3