As Ondo Finance surges and Optimism struggles at key support, Web3Bay is transforming Web3 e-commerce. With its presale surpassing $1M, Web3Bay is positioned for massive growth — discover why it’s the best Web3 investment for 2025.

Ondo Finance Surges, Optimism Faces Uncertainty, but Web3Bay Is Leading the Web3 E-Commerce Revolution

Explore how Web3Bay, Ondo Finance, and VeChain are transforming online transactions. While Ondo Finance tokenizes U.S. Treasuries and VeChain enhances supply chains, Web3Bay redefines e-commerce with censorship-resistant shopping and smart contract autonomy.

Forget Ondo Finance & VeChain—Best Crypto Presale Web3Bay’s E-Commerce Model Is the Future of Blockchain - Crypto Daily

Martinez also updates his outlook on the real-world asset (RWA) project Ondo Finance (ONDO), which he says could soon be dealing with some price volatility amid increased crypto exchange inflows.

Crypto Analyst Issues Aave Alert, Updates Outlook on Litecoin and Ondo Finance - The Daily Hodl

Ondo Finance and Aptos Foundation partnered on the integration of real-world assets with blockchain technology.

Ondo and Aptos Partner to Integrate Real-World Assets, Blockchain Technology

Betty Akeredolu, wife of Late Ondo Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has paid tributes to her husband. In a copy of the tribute document seen by SaharaReporters on Friday, the former First Lady of Ondo State lamented dealing with a lot of mockeries from close allies and enemies of her late husband.

Former Ondo First Lady, Betty Lambasts 'So-Called Friends' Of Akeredolu In Her Tribute To Late Governor | Sahara Reporters

The wife of the late Akeredolu, Betty, in her tribute, hit hard on the critics of her relationship with her late husband.

Akeredolu's widow slams critics as ex-governor is buried in Ondo

Aptos is the latest chain to offer users access to Ondo’s USDY.

Ondo Finance Integrates Tokenized U.S. Treasuries Onto Layer 1 Aptos

Ondo

ondo

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, March 1st, 2024/Chainwire/-- Ondo launches native access to tokenized real-world assets on Sui. Sui, the Layer 1 blockchain that offers industry-leading performance and infinite scaling, has announced that Ondo Finance’s yield-bearing stablecoin alternative is now live on the network and available for immediate use by builders, developers, and their end users. Ondo’s US treasury-backed and interest-bearing token, USDY, is the Sui Network’s first native dollar-denominated token. Ondo’s expansion to Sui offers key functionalities enabling builders and developers within the ultra-composable Sui ecosystem to create decentralized applications with significantly more features. Sui’s fast-rising DeFi TVL and volume, along with its adoption by leading projects, including some from other platforms, indicates a network that is experiencing growing demand for its next-generation financial applications. Ondo Finance is the third-largest platform bringing tokenized forms of real-world assets onto public blockchains with $185M in TVL. Ondo’s flagship Treasury-backed tokens and other tokenized real-world assets will create countless new opportunities for teams building on Sui. At inception, DeFi protocols with immediate integrations of USDY include Aftermath Finance, Cetus, NAVI Protocol, Typus Finance, Bucket Protocol, Turbos, and KriyaDEX. “I am extremely excited to bring the unique benefits of Ondo’s treasury-backed, yield-bearing USDY token to the builders and developers on Sui,” said Ondo’s founder and CEO, Nathan Allman. “The combination of our technologies offers this group, which is already creating apps at the forefront of DeFi, a unique opportunity to leverage Sui to advance the industry even further.” The tokenized treasury-backed offerings that now live on the Sui Network represent tradable tokens backed by real-world assets, marking a significant step toward growing DeFi in the ecosystem and across the industry. “Sui’s rapid growth in decentralized finance, exemplified by the significant assets and projects coming to the ecosystem, is a clear illustration that the network is ready to incorporate the latest in tokenized real-world assets,” said Greg Siourounis, Managing Director of the Sui Foundation. “Having a version of Ondo’s USDY that is native to Sui will unlock exciting new opportunities for Sui’s builders and developers and new features for the users of their applications.” Contact Sui Foundation media@sui.io This story was distributed as a release by Financewire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here.

Ondo Launches Native Access To Tokenized Real-World Assets On Sui

GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, February 7th, 2024/Chainwire/--Ondo’s Sui upcoming integration will bring native access to new tokenized assets such as treasuries, securities, and stablecoins on-chain. , the Layer 1 blockchain which has experienced explosive growth since its inception eight months ago, today announced that Ondo Finance is expanding into the Sui ecosystem. Sui The expansion will bring Sui Network’s first native dollar-denominated token (including stablecoins and interest-bearing stablecoin substitutes) in the form of Ondo USD Yield or “USDY” — a US treasury-backed and interest-bearing token issued by Ondo. Ondo’s expansion to Sui adds to Sui’s blistering DeFi momentum, demonstrating the growth and demand for financial applications and native functionality on chain. Sui’s DeFi volume is up more than 1200% since October and Sui recently broke into the top 10 DeFi ecosystems as measured by TVL. Ondo Finance is the third-largest platform bringing tokenized derivatives of real-world assets onto public blockchains with $185M in TVL and over $1B worth of its newly-launched governance token trading in its first week in late January. In addition to stablecoins, Ondo’s flagship Treasury-backed tokens, tokenized securities, and real-world assets will create countless new opportunities for teams building on Sui. Ondo’s expansion into the Sui ecosystem also continues a trend of top projects affirmatively choosing to integrate into Sui. For example, in December 2023, leading Solana lending protocol Solend announced it would launch a lending protocol native to Sui and decentralized derivatives exchange Bluefin likewise shuttered its V1 Arbitrum implementation to focus entirely on Sui. What The People Spearheading This Had to Say “The people who interact with our platform want fast and efficient transactions, which should be essential for any blockchain project,” said Ondo’s founder and chief executive officer, Nathan Allman. “Sui’s growth and network performance offer clear confirmation that its network is the perfect fit for Ondo’s ecosystem.” Tokenized treasury offerings represent tradable tokens backed by real-world assets, and their presence on Sui is a significant step toward growing DeFi in the ecosystem and across the industry. “Ondo is an amazing addition to the Sui ecosystem, providing a native yield-bearing stablecoin-like asset that will unlock new opportunities for Sui’s builders and developers and essential new functionality for the users of their applications,” said Greg Siourounis, Managing Director of the Sui Foundation. “Sui’s DeFi volume is already growing at a remarkable rate and Ondo’s participation will make that trajectory even stronger. I am excited to see how Sui’s community leverages the real-world assets and innovative financial products Ondo offers.” Contact Sui Foundation media@sui.io This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program . here

Real-World Assets And Yield-Bearing Stablecoin-Alternative Coming to Sui: Ondo Finance's Expansion

The cryptocurrency infrastructure landscape is experiencing significant market fatigue. After years of explosive growth, infrastructure project valuations are now shrinking as investors grow more selective. This trend reflects a maturing market where mere technical innovation is no longer sufficient to command premium valuations. The Innovation Problem Today's infrastructure projects face a critical dilemma: most offer similar capabilities with minimal differentiation. Despite technical advancements, we haven't seen breakthrough use cases that enable entirely new classes of applications. The ecosystem struggles to demonstrate compelling value propositions for established Web2 platforms like X or Instagram to migrate to blockchain. Without clear advantages beyond decentralization, these platforms see little incentive to uproot their existing operations. This fundamental adoption gap leaves trading and speculation as the dominant applications across most infrastructure layers, limiting the sector's transformative potential. The Empty Infrastructure Dilemma The proliferation of infrastructure projects has created a paradoxical situation - too many platforms competing for too few compelling applications. This imbalance has resulted in numerous "ghost chains" with minimal real-world usage and negligible revenue generation, creating unsustainable economic models that rely primarily on token appreciation rather than genuine utility. Breaking the Feedback Loop A healthy crypto ecosystem requires a productive feedback loop between application developers and infrastructure builders. Currently, this cycle is fractured - application developers struggle with infrastructure limitations, while infrastructure teams lack clear signals about which capabilities would drive actual usage. Restoring this feedback mechanism is essential for sustainable growth. Despite these challenges, infrastructure development remains lucrative, with 35 of the top 50 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization maintaining their own infrastructure layers. However, the bar for success has risen dramatically - new infrastructure projects must simultaneously demonstrate concrete use cases, substantial user traction, and compelling narratives to achieve meaningful valuations. Most successful new infra in the past year Evolution of Blockchain Infrastructure Previous cycles of blockchain infrastructure primarily focused on solving Ethereum's limitations, with projects positioning themselves as "faster and cheaper" alternatives while offering few truly novel capabilities. The landscape has shifted dramatically, with recent successful projects introducing more diverse and specialized infrastructure solutions. High-Valuation Newcomers The past year has witnessed the emergence of several infrastructure projects that have achieved remarkable valuations through token generation events (TGEs) or significant funding rounds. According to Cryptorank data, these projects represent the most impactful new infrastructure in both primary and secondary markets: Ultra-High Valuation ($4B+ FDV) Ultra-High Valuation ($4B+ FDV) Ondo ($8B FDV) - RWA tokenization platform
Story ($5B FDV) - IP programmability for AI
Movement ($4B FDV) - MoveVM on Ethereum
Berachain ($4B FDV) - Liquidity EVM layer1 Ondo ($8B FDV) - RWA tokenization platform Story ($5B FDV) - IP programmability for AI Movement ($4B FDV) - MoveVM on Ethereum Berachain ($4B FDV) - Liquidity EVM layer1 High Valuation ($1-4B FDV/Valuation) High Valuation ($1-4B FDV/Valuation) Walrus ($2.6B FDV) - Blob storage
Plume ($1.7B FDV) - RWA blockchain
Eigenlayer ($1.6B FDV) - Restaking protocol
Solayer ($1.4B FDV) - Solana restaking, Ultra fast SVM blockchain
Aethir ($1.3B FDV) - On-demand GPU compute network
Monad (>$1B valuation) - High-performance EVM
Humanity ($1.1B valuation) - Digital identity protocol Walrus ($2.6B FDV) - Blob storage Plume ($1.7B FDV) - RWA blockchain Eigenlayer ($1.6B FDV) - Restaking protocol Solayer ($1.4B FDV) - Solana restaking, Ultra fast SVM blockchain Aethir ($1.3B FDV) - On-demand GPU compute network Monad (>$1B valuation) - High-performance EVM Humanity ($1.1B valuation) - Digital identity protocol Emerging Contenders (Under $1B) Emerging Contenders (Under $1B) Succinct ($500M-1B valuation) - ZK proof generation network, ZKVM
Double Zero ($400M valuation) - Decetralized physical fiber network Succinct ($500M-1B valuation) - ZK proof generation network, ZKVM Double Zero ($400M valuation) - Decetralized physical fiber network Key Observation 0. The Unsustainability of High FDV, Low MC, Low Volume Projects When analyzing projects with high FDV, low MC, and minimal trading volume, a concerning pattern emerges: Token Inflation: The large gap between FDV and market cap indicates future token unlocks that will create sustained selling pressure.
Persistent Price Decline: Despite technical progress or partnership announcements, continuous token dilution typically leads to price drops.
Eroding User Confidence: When prices fall despite positive developments, community sentiment deteriorates, making it increasingly difficult to attract developers, users, and additional investment. Token Inflation: The large gap between FDV and market cap indicates future token unlocks that will create sustained selling pressure. Token Inflation Persistent Price Decline: Despite technical progress or partnership announcements, continuous token dilution typically leads to price drops. Persistent Price Decline Eroding User Confidence: When prices fall despite positive developments, community sentiment deteriorates, making it increasingly difficult to attract developers, users, and additional investment. Eroding User Confidence This dynamic creates a negative feedback loop: diminished confidence reduces adoption, further suppressing trading volume and accelerating price decline. Infrastructure projects must carefully balance tokenomics to avoid this unsustainable pattern, as technical advantages alone cannot overcome fundamentally flawed token economic models. 1. Crypto-Native Infrastructure Maintains Strong Relevance Projects focused on core blockchain infrastructure continue to capture significant value: Enhanced Layer 1/2 Platforms: Monad, Movement, Berachain, and Solayer have achieved $1B+ valuations by offering a faster blockchain leverage existing developer community (EVM, MoveVM, SVM) rather than introducing entirely new programming languages. This suggests VM innovation may plateau temporarily while optimization takes precedence.
Network Layer Optimization: Double Zero ($400M valuation) demonstrates the value of new specialized infrastructure focused on reducing latency and increasing bandwidth for validators.
Security Enhancement: Succinct provide critical proof generation capabilities that strengthen blockchain security, while Eigenlayer's restaking protocol offers novel security models for emerging blockchains. Enhanced Layer 1/2 Platforms: Monad, Movement, Berachain, and Solayer have achieved $1B+ valuations by offering a faster blockchain leverage existing developer community (EVM, MoveVM, SVM) rather than introducing entirely new programming languages. This suggests VM innovation may plateau temporarily while optimization takes precedence. Enhanced Layer 1/2 Platforms Network Layer Optimization: Double Zero ($400M valuation) demonstrates the value of new specialized infrastructure focused on reducing latency and increasing bandwidth for validators. Network Layer Optimization Security Enhancement: Succinct provide critical proof generation capabilities that strengthen blockchain security, while Eigenlayer's restaking protocol offers novel security models for emerging blockchains. Security Enhancement 2. Valuation Ceiling Presents Exit Challenges None of these projects exceed $10B valuation, indicating a potential ceiling in the current market. This suggests that achieving outsized returns (100x) would require early entry at sub-$50M valuations, making timing critical for investors. 3. Web2-Focused Projects Command Premium Valuations Projects explicitly bridging Web2 and Web3 demonstrate exceptional market traction: Ondo ($8B FDV) and Story ($5B FDV), and Plume ($1.7B valuation) all focus on making blockchain relevant to mainstream applications.
These successful projects build accessible global marketplaces around already-adopted Web2 concepts Ondo ($8B FDV) and Story ($5B FDV), and Plume ($1.7B valuation) all focus on making blockchain relevant to mainstream applications. These successful projects build accessible global marketplaces around already-adopted Web2 concepts 4. Finance and AI Dominate Use Cases Examining the target use cases reveals finance and AI applications represent the most valued infrastructure categories, with projects like Ondo, Movement, Berachain (finance), and Eigenlayer, Aethir (AI) achieving significant valuations. 5. Ecosystem Composability Drives Valuation Nearly every project valued above $1B FDV has established a dedicated ecosystem. The data indicates that ecosystems featuring multiple composable projects create exponentially more value than isolated solutions, highlighting the network effect in blockchain infrastructure. 6. First-Mover Advantage Is Not Deterministic Only three projects (Double Zero, Story, Eigenlayer) pioneered their respective narratives, yet many followers have achieved comparable or higher valuations. This suggests execution quality and market timing often outweigh first-mover status. 7. Notable Narrative Gaps Several infrastructure narratives failed to produce billion-dollar projects during this period, including gaming-specific chains, RaaS (Research as a Service), verification layers, multi-VM platforms, agent-oriented blockchains, DePIN-specific chains, and decentralized science infrastructure. Future Investment Opportunities in Blockchain Infrastructure Targeting Untapped Web2 Markets The most promising infrastructure opportunities will target substantial Web2 markets that remain underserved by blockchain solutions. These projects can create globally accessible marketplaces while introducing improved financilization mechanisms Creating Novel Infrastructure Categories Rather than incrementally improving existing infrastructure, significant value will emerge from entirely new infrastructure categories: Intent-Based Infrastructure: Protocols enabling users to express desired outcomes rather than specific transactions, with execution optimization handled automatically. Intent-Based Infrastructure: Protocols enabling users to express desired outcomes rather than specific transactions, with execution optimization handled automatically. Intent-Based Infrastructure Enabling Web2 Integration Patterns Creating revolutionary applications from scratch requires significant time and resources. A more efficient approach mirrors the recent AI revolution: integrating blockchain functionality directly into existing Web2 applications. The remarkable speed of AI adoption wasn't primarily driven by standalone AI applications, but by thousands of established platforms incorporating AI capabilities into their existing user experiences. Blockchain infrastructure must therefore prioritize seamless integration pathways that allow Web2 applications to progressively implement blockchain features without disrupting their core user experience. The most successful infrastructure will enable familiar applications to offer ownership, trading, and financial capabilities without requiring users to understand complex blockchain concepts or navigate entirely new interfaces. Financial incentives will likely drive this integration wave. Just as AI features helped Web2 companies create premium tiers and new revenue streams, blockchain integration can unlock new monetization models through tokenization, fractional ownership, and programmable royalties. Infrastructure that makes these benefits accessible while minimizing technical complexity will catalyze the next phase of blockchain adoption across mainstream applications.

Crypto Infrastructure is Experiencing Significant Market Fatigue

The new winners aren’t just good writers; they’re skilled writers who are great at prompting AI Key Takeaways: Key Takeaways: Key Takeaways: The majority of writers and editors today believe they have the worst AI-proof jobs out there, and they're clueless when it comes to applying generative AI to their stories.
Freelancers have always been underpaid, and AI is not the cause of their job insecurity but an accelerant that widens the divide between those who adapt and those who don't.
Having a personal website is no longer enough; writers need to focus on AI Search Optimization (AISO) and getting their content into AI-visible platforms to stay relevant in their careers. The majority of writers and editors today believe they have the worst AI-proof jobs out there, and they're clueless when it comes to applying generative AI to their stories. The majority of writers and editors today believe they have the worst AI-proof jobs out there, and they're clueless when it comes to applying generative AI to their stories. The majority of writers and editors today believe they have the worst AI-proof jobs out there, and they're clueless when it comes to applying generative AI to their stories. Freelancers have always been underpaid, and AI is not the cause of their job insecurity but an accelerant that widens the divide between those who adapt and those who don't. Freelancers have always been underpaid, and AI is not the cause of their job insecurity but an accelerant that widens the divide between those who adapt and those who don't. Freelancers have always been underpaid, and AI is not the cause of their job insecurity but an accelerant that widens the divide between those who adapt and those who don't. Having a personal website is no longer enough; writers need to focus on AI Search Optimization (AISO) and getting their content into AI-visible platforms to stay relevant in their careers. Having a personal website is no longer enough; writers need to focus on AI Search Optimization (AISO) and getting their content into AI-visible platforms to stay relevant in their careers. Having a personal website is no longer enough; writers need to focus on AI Search Optimization (AISO) and getting their content into AI-visible platforms to stay relevant in their careers ‍ Today, I’m going to say something that’ll ruffle feathers—but someone has to say it for the sake of AI-proofing our jobs. That is… The majority of writers and editors today are clueless when it comes to generative AI. The majority of writers and editors today are clueless when it comes to generative AI. The majority of writers and editors today are clueless when it comes to generative AI. Why should you care? Because whether you love it, hate it, or fear it, generative AI is reshaping the media landscape faster than most realize—and those who can’t adapt or differentiate will soon find themselves irrelevant. We’re witnessing an ideological war that is quietly dividing our profession. On one side, you have descriptivists—folks open to change, ready to embrace generative AI and the many language quirks it ushers in. On the other, you find prescriptivists—guardians of tradition, fiercely protecting the sanctity of their craft against what they see as linguistic vandalism. But history holds a lesson for the skeptics… In the 1970s, video display terminals terrified editors, convinced they would become mere machine operators. They called it the death of personalized editing. As they saw it, this led to a marked decline in the quality of the newspaper. Yet, newspapers thrived. Portable terminals, such as the Teleram P-1800 introduced in the mid-1970s, allowed reporters to write and transmit articles directly from the field. This innovation streamlined the news production process, enabling faster reporting and more efficient workflows. Journalists could now focus more on content creation, as the technology simplified many of the mechanical aspects of their work. In the ‘80s, the alarm bells rang again when early AI appeared in newsrooms, writing basic copy. Writers scoffed, editors panicked, convinced these primitive systems would strip away creativity and judgment. Believing machines were lousy stand-ins for human judgment, they feared these rudimentary AIs would box writers into formulaic patterns, dictated by software. Even word processors scared the shit out of some writers and editors. As one observer put it at the time, a word processor seemed like “something with a mind of its own that might impose its own android habits on the user.” Renowned authors like Wendell Berry and Ray Bradbury refused to touch computers, swearing they’d destroy art and creativity. In his 1987 essay “Why I Am Not Going to Buy a Computer,” Berry argued that using a computer would not improve his writing and might even disrupt the creative process. Berry effectively said, “Show me a computer that can write better than Dante, and then we’ll talk.” While Bradbury — ironically, a futurist in his fiction — declared “I hate the internet! I hate computers!” Yet again, the art and craft marched forward. The same anti-technology bias is alive and well today. Freelance writers fear generative AI is eating their lunch, turning careers into gig work, pushing writers toward ramen dinners while bosses enjoy piña coladas funded by AI-driven savings… Take this post from freelance writer and SEO expert Brianna Jeane the other day: this post “Freelance writers, let’s face it: AI’s got us on the ropes. Most of us are out here scraping by, refreshing tabs like a slot machine, while AI gives your former/potential boss extra piña coladas while we’re sipping instant ramen. Brutal, right? “Freelance writers, let’s face it: AI’s got us on the ropes. Most of us are out here scraping by, refreshing tabs like a slot machine, while AI gives your former/potential boss extra piña coladas while we’re sipping instant ramen. Brutal, right? The next $100 you score for that measly 1,000-word piece, don’t blow it on fancy skincare, girlies, and guys; ditch the beer sesh with the crew. Take that crisp Benjamin and build a website. The next $100 you score for that measly 1,000-word piece, don’t blow it on fancy skincare, girlies, and guys; ditch the beer sesh with the crew. Take that crisp Benjamin and build a website. $9 – Buy a domain (Namecheap, Bluehost, Hostinger, whatever’s not trash).   $35 – Get a solid hosting plan (more storage, multiple domains). $9 – Buy a domain (Namecheap, Bluehost, Hostinger, whatever’s not trash).   $35 – Get a solid hosting plan (more storage, multiple domains). Transfer it to WordPress and DIY the site (YouTube tutorials got you). Transfer it to WordPress and DIY the site (YouTube tutorials got you). Employers drool over WordPress chops, and you might just be their shiny new toy (a sharp addition to your resume). Employers drool over WordPress chops, and you might just be their shiny new toy (a sharp addition to your resume). Your homepage should feature your headshot, portfolio, and standout sample pieces that showcase your unique voice and skill, ones that prove you’re not just another AI clone. Your homepage should feature your headshot, portfolio, and standout sample pieces that showcase your unique voice and skill, ones that prove you’re not just another AI clone. Now, here’s the bold move in your ‘Resources’ section: post 4 articles a day. Pick a niche that hooks readers. It could be global breaking news for journos, the insane U.S. medical insurance mess for healthcare writers, or whatever pulls them in. SEO the living hell out of it with keywords, backlinks, meta tags, all that jazz. Now, here’s the bold move in your ‘Resources’ section: post 4 articles a day. Pick a niche that hooks readers. It could be global breaking news for journos, the insane U.S. medical insurance mess for healthcare writers, or whatever pulls them in. SEO the living hell out of it with keywords, backlinks, meta tags, all that jazz. Swap guest posts with your writer buddies. Someone scrolling might just trip over your brilliance and think, ‘This one. I need this one.’ Swap guest posts with your writer buddies. Someone scrolling might just trip over your brilliance and think, ‘This one. I need this one.’ Long shot? Sure, but it works. Long shot? Sure, but it works. Also, unplug sometimes. Crank up some Bob Marley, sip a cold one, live, don’t just rot on the couch.” Also, unplug sometimes. Crank up some Bob Marley, sip a cold one, live, don’t just rot on the couch.” There’s a lot here, so let’s unpack this, one point at a time: 1. Freelancers Have Always Been Underpaid. AI Didn’t Start That Fire. “AI’s got us on the ropes… we’re sipping instant ramen.” “AI’s got us on the ropes… we’re sipping instant ramen.” Let’s not rewrite history. For those of us who did it, freelancing in the 2010s wasn’t exactly easy street. Demand Media promised cash-for-content glory, then crashed spectacularly. Fiverr entered the scene promoting gigs at a race-to-the-bottom price point, and HuffPo famously paid contributors in exposure, not dollars. Digital writing gigs rarely paid bills comfortably, and most freelancers lived job-to-job, hoping for a lucky break or building strategic connections to secure steady, well-paying work. What to prioritize instead: Freelancers have always dealt with tough economics. AI isn’t the cause—it’s an accelerant, rapidly widening the divide between writers who cling to old ways and those who evolve. The new winners aren’t just great writers; they’re great writers who are great at prompting AI, harnessing its strengths to amplify creativity, streamline production, and boost their market value. Writers who adapt quickly and master AI-driven content strategies stand to significantly improve their earning potential, tapping into opportunities traditional freelancing never offered. 2. The Website Hustle Needs a New Playbook “Take that $100 and build a WordPress site” “Take that $100 and build a WordPress site” Agreed! Own your domain and build your house—but the story doesn’t end there. Brianna seems to see a personal website as a key differentiator. Maybe a decade ago, but today, simply having a personal site isn’t enough to set you apart. “Transfer it to WordPress and DIY the site…” “Transfer it to WordPress and DIY the site…” Further, you can skip the tedious YouTube tutorials. Now, you’ve got tools like Deep Research on ChatGPT, and Deep Search on Grok, to instantly guide you through building a sleek, optimized, AI-friendly site. These tools make launching your site faster, smarter, and simpler than ever. What to prioritize instead: Your authority now lives where the audience searches—and increasingly, that’s in AI-driven search environments like Google AIO, Perplexity, and ChatGPT Search. To stay relevant, writers need to become AI-visible. Focus on getting your content and bylines into credible, high-ranking, and easily machine-readable platforms. View your personal site as a polished digital business card rather than your entire business model. 3. AI Search Optimization (AISO) Is the New SEO “Employers drool over WordPress chops…” “Employers drool over WordPress chops…” Maybe they used to. But today, the new currency is AI Search Optimization (AISO). “SEO the hell out of it” was excellent advice back in 2015. But search has evolved beyond keyword stuffing and backlinks. Now, semantic relationships and entity-based retrieval dominate. Writers who understand natural language processing (NLP), semantic markup, and how LLMs interpret, summarize, and cite content will be the ones who thrive. Knowing how to use Yoast isn’t enough—you need to relearn how to be discovered by AI-driven search engines without compromising your natural writing style. What to prioritize instead: Master AI Search Optimization (AISO).
Create structured, machine-readable content using schema markup.
Write structured content that’s driven by questions people actually ask.
Build topical authority so that LLMs connect your name, voice, and expertise directly with your niche. Master AI Search Optimization (AISO). Create structured, machine-readable content using schema markup. Write structured content that’s driven by questions people actually ask. Build topical authority so that LLMs connect your name, voice, and expertise directly with your niche. If Google, ChatGPT, or other AI-powered platforms don’t recognize your authority and content, they won’t cite you. And in a landscape where visibility depends increasingly on AI citations, being overlooked by AI means becoming invisible. 4. Content Strategy Over Volume “Post 4 articles a day… SEO the living hell out of it…” “Post 4 articles a day… SEO the living hell out of it…” Posting “four articles a day” is content treadmill thinking. It burns writers out and bloats the web with mediocre content. If you’re still optimizing headlines for old-school CTR or stuffing keywords into paragraphs, Google’s next algorithm update is going to tank your traffic. In fact, Google’s March 2025 Core update rewards "human-written" and "creator-driven" content over low-quality, Al-generated material. Bottom line: Forget the quantity treadmill. What to prioritize instead: Write with semantic relevance in mind.
Prioritize clarity and natural language to enhance machine understanding.
Optimize content for featured snippets and AI-generated summaries.
Use structured data to teach LLMs what you’re about.
Stay updated on evolving LLM trends to continuously refine your strategy. Write with semantic relevance in mind. Prioritize clarity and natural language to enhance machine understanding. Optimize content for featured snippets and AI-generated summaries. Use structured data to teach LLMs what you’re about. Stay updated on evolving LLM trends to continuously refine your strategy. Create deep, high-value, evergreen content that establishes you as a trusted source. One well-researched, highly cited piece can do more for your visibility than dozens of filler posts. It’s not about flooding the zone—it’s about owning a zone. Think of AISO like 3D chess. Classical SEO is still useful, but it’s now a game full of pawns. 5. Trade Credibility, Not Just Backlinks “Swap guest posts with your writer buddies…” “Swap guest posts with your writer buddies…” Swapping guest posts “with your writer buddies” can build backlinks, sure, but it rarely builds lasting authority. The goal shouldn’t just be traffic or backlinks, but “citability.” Basically, you want to be referenced by platforms, newsletters, and databases that AI tools crawl and learn from. What to prioritize instead: Instead of merely exchanging posts, exchange credibility. Collaborate and co-create content with influencers and thought leaders actively shaping your niche’s information landscape. Partner with established brands, reputable editors, and authoritative platforms already recognized by AI search engines or likely to be featured prominently in AI-driven results. Prioritize building genuine relationships with influential figures managing newsletters, structured databases, or citation networks. Your objective isn’t just about collecting backlinks—it’s about positioning yourself as a trustworthy source regularly cited by authoritative entities recognized and respected by AI search tools. 6. Become a Trusted Source, Not ‘Just a Freelancer’ Positioning yourself as a writer-for-hire may land you gigs in the short term, but it won’t build long-term leverage. If you’re only ever seen as a content producer, you’re replaceable. But when you’re seen as a source—someone with opinions, insights, and recognizable expertise—you gain staying power. What to prioritize instead: Start thinking like a subject-matter expert, even if your niche feels narrow. Share insights, synthesize trends, and contribute original thinking. Platforms like LinkedIn, Substack, X, and niche forums are ideal places to show your work and shape your identity. Don’t just write—analyze. Don’t just report—interpret. The goal is to build a strong knowledge graph around your name. That means getting your name consistently associated with key topics, themes, and questions in your field. This not only helps editors see you as a go-to voice, but it also improves how LLMs surface, cite, and contextualize your work. In a future shaped by AI discovery, being seen as a source increases your chances of being cited, syndicated, and sought after—not just hired. Bonus: Differentiate By Doing What AI Can’t Large language models like ChatGPT have transformed how we write, edit, and distribute stories. And yes, there are real limitations. AI can’t grasp narrative nuance, exercise genuine judgment, or chase a lead down on Wall Street. But dismissing AI as irrelevant to quality editorial copy misses the point. AI excels at speeding up, automating, and enhancing certain newsroom tasks. It can polish grammar, translate instantly, summarize huge datasets, uncover hidden connections, and suggest story angles you haven’t thought of yet, which you can then refine. These tasks typically drain newsroom resources. But when used well, AI doesn’t just hand writers and editors back their time; it becomes an extension of them. Investigative journalism—built on presence, persistence, and personal thought—allows reporters to do what machines can’t: original, in-the-field reporting. Politico’s Andrew Briz understand this balance. He‘s rethinking the newsroom with smart AI integration, delivering wider reach, deeper insights, and greater flexibility. AI becomes a tool to sharpen their journos’ thoughts, bounce ideas off of, and provide “Deep Research” that it would take a human hours to find. With AI handling repetitive tasks, reporters can dig deeper, stay longer, and write stories that resonate. Politico’s rethinking the newsroom with smart AI integration Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Resistance to technology hasn’t protected anyone—it only delayed the inevitable. I can’t possibly hope to change the minds of people who have made them up, but I can at least give my take on it and hope other writers realize that generative AI isn’t their enemy, but their greatest thought partner, and hope they learn how to leverage AI and their own inimitable talents to stand out rather than be left behind. Because, as history proves time and again, those who embrace the change don’t just survive—they thrive. To learn more every week, sign up for our GenPrompt newsletter here. To learn more every week, sign up for our GenPrompt newsletter here To learn more every week, sign up for our GenPrompt newsletter here . This post originally appeared on Skellator.com. This post originally appeared on Skellator.com. This post originally appeared on Skellator.com.

The Majority of Writers and Editors Today are Clueless When it Comes to Generative AI

জেনারেটিভ এআই-এর ক্ষেত্রে আজকের বেশিরভাগ লেখক এবং সম্পাদকই অজ্ঞ।

Většina spisovatelů a redaktorů dnes je nejasná, pokud jde o generativní AI

La mayoría de los escritores y editores actuales no tienen ni idea de la IA generativa

今日の作家や編集者の大多数は、生成型AIに関しては無謀です。

მწერლებისა და რედაქტორების უმეტესობა დღეს უაზროა, როცა საქმე გენერაციულ AI-ს ეხება

Мнозинството писатели и уредници денес се без знаење кога станува збор за генеративната вештачка интелигенција

Majoriti Penulis dan Penyunting Hari Ini Tidak Pemahaman Mengenai AI Generatif

A maioria dos escritores e editores de hoje são inconscientes quando se trata de IA generativa

Väčšina spisovateľov a redaktorov dnes je nejasná, pokiaľ ide o generatívnu AI

นักเขียนและบรรณาธิการส่วนใหญ่ในวันนี้ไม่มีเหตุผลเมื่อมาถึง AI ที่สร้างขึ้น

ERROR: invalid target_lang (ts)

O‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z o‘z

Zug, Switzerland—March 24, 2025—Arcium, a leader in encrypted computing, today announced its Community Round in collaboration with CoinList. This initiative gives participants the opportunity to take part in Arcium’s mission of enabling data to move across the internet in a fully encrypted state. Arcium is redefining core industries like blockchain, finance, healthcare, defense, AI, and more, by computing sensitive information without ever exposing it, unlocking a new era of privacy, security, and collaboration. Empowering the Community with a Fair and Transparent Token Launch Historically, the combination of poorly structured vesting schedules and inflated valuation leads to the problem of “low float, high FDV”. Arcium takes a new approach, with the Community Round being 100% unlocked at the Token Generation Event (TGE). This ensures that the community—not VCs, early investors, or the team—holds immediate control over their tokens. Holders can fully participate in governance, contribute to the network, and stake their tokens from day one. Locked tokens will not be eligible for staking, reinforcing a fair and transparent launch structure. Fair Valuation and Strong Tokenomics Arcium enables its community to become true stakeholders, fostering decentralization and security while engaging freely in the network’s growth.Yannik Schrade, CEO at Arcium says: “At Arcium, we believe that real innovation happens when the community has ownership from day one. By ensuring 100% unlock at TGE, we are giving our supporters the freedom to fully participate in governance, staking, and network growth.” A high initial token float ensures the Arcium Network can function effectively from the outset, empowering entirely new use cases across various verticals. The Arcium token is required for node activation, network security, and staking, making broad and immediate distribution essential to decentralizing control and preventing supply bottlenecks. CoinList Community Round Launch Details The Arcium Community Round is live from March 24th to April 1st on CoinList. To participate, sign up for a CoinList account and learn more about the sale here:  <https://coinlist.co/arcium ](https://coinlist.co/arcium) Disclaimer: “This crypto-asset marketing communication has not been reviewed or approved by any competent authority in any Member State of the European Union. The offeror of the crypto-asset is solely responsible for the content of this crypto-asset marketing communication.” About Arcium: Arcium is an encrypted supercomputer that brings a trustless, verifiable, and efficient framework to run encrypted computations. Arcium provides developers, applications and entire industries with a trustless, verifiable, and efficient framework to run encrypted computations. With Arcium, the internet can use data to its full extent in an entirely encrypted state. Backed by investors such as Greenfield Capital, Coinbase Ventures, Heartcore Capital, Longhash VC, __L2 Iterative Venture__s and Anagram Arcium's goal is to allow the entire internet to run on encryption. More up to date info about the project :  website, blog, X and docs. For media queries, please contact: arcium@wachsman.com About CoinList: CoinList helps the best builders in crypto launch and grow their products and protocols. Since 2017, CoinList has become the global leader in community growth, helping blue chip projects like Filecoin, Solana, Ondo, Near, Flow, and others launch their protocols and connect with hundreds of thousands of new token holders through more than $1.2 billion in token sales. With a global community of over 11M users, CoinList supports the full crypto lifecycle, from token sales through token distribution, trading, and staking. Learn more at www.coinlist.co. This story was distributed as a release by Btcwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here Zug, Switzerland—March 24, 2025—Arcium, a leader in encrypted computing, today announced its Community Round in collaboration with CoinList. This initiative gives participants the opportunity to take part in Arcium’s mission of enabling data to move across the internet in a fully encrypted state. Community Round Community Round Arcium is redefining core industries like blockchain, finance, healthcare, defense, AI, and more, by computing sensitive information without ever exposing it, unlocking a new era of privacy, security, and collaboration. Empowering the Community with a Fair and Transparent Token Launch Historically, the combination of poorly structured vesting schedules and inflated valuation leads to the problem of “low float, high FDV”. Arcium takes a new approach, with the Community Round being 100% unlocked at the Token Generation Event (TGE). This ensures that the community—not VCs, early investors, or the team—holds immediate control over their tokens. Holders can fully participate in governance, contribute to the network, and stake their tokens from day one. Locked tokens will not be eligible for staking, reinforcing a fair and transparent launch structure. Fair Valuation and Strong Tokenomics Arcium enables its community to become true stakeholders, fostering decentralization and security while engaging freely in the network’s growth. Yannik Schrade, CEO at Arcium says: “At Arcium, we believe that real innovation happens when the community has ownership from day one. By ensuring 100% unlock at TGE, we are giving our supporters the freedom to fully participate in governance, staking, and network growth.” “At Arcium, we believe that real innovation happens when the community has ownership from day one. By ensuring 100% unlock at TGE, we are giving our supporters the freedom to fully participate in governance, staking, and network growth.” “At Arcium, we believe that real innovation happens when the community has ownership from day one. By ensuring 100% unlock at TGE, we are giving our supporters the freedom to fully participate in governance, staking, and network growth.” A high initial token float ensures the Arcium Network can function effectively from the outset, empowering entirely new use cases across various verticals. The Arcium token is required for node activation, network security, and staking, making broad and immediate distribution essential to decentralizing control and preventing supply bottlenecks. CoinList Community Round Launch Details CoinList Community Round Launch Details The Arcium Community Round is live from March 24th to April 1st on CoinList. To participate, sign up for a CoinList account and learn more about the sale here: <https://coinlist.co/arcium ](https://coinlist.co/arcium) <https://coinlist.co/arcium ](https://coinlist.co/arcium) Disclaimer: “This crypto-asset marketing communication has not been reviewed or approved by any competent authority in any Member State of the European Union. The offeror of the crypto-asset is solely responsible for the content of this crypto-asset marketing communication.” Disclaimer: “This crypto-asset marketing communication has not been reviewed or approved by any competent authority in any Member State of the European Union. The offeror of the crypto-asset is solely responsible for the content of this crypto-asset marketing communication.” About Arcium: Arcium is an encrypted supercomputer that brings a trustless, verifiable, and efficient framework to run encrypted computations. Arcium provides developers, applications and entire industries with a trustless, verifiable, and efficient framework to run encrypted computations. With Arcium, the internet can use data to its full extent in an entirely encrypted state. Backed by investors such as Greenfield Capital , Coinbase Ventures , Heartcore Capital , Longhash VC , __ L2 Iterative Venture __s and Anagram Arcium's goal is to allow the entire internet to run on encryption. More up to date info about the project : website , blog , X and docs . For media queries, please contact: arcium@wachsman.com Greenfield Capital Greenfield Capital Coinbase Ventures Coinbase Ventures Heartcore Capital Heartcore Capital Longhash VC Longhash VC L2 Iterative Venture Anagram Anagram website website blog blog X X docs docs arcium@wachsman.com arcium@wachsman.com About CoinList: CoinList helps the best builders in crypto launch and grow their products and protocols. Since 2017, CoinList has become the global leader in community growth, helping blue chip projects like Filecoin, Solana, Ondo, Near, Flow, and others launch their protocols and connect with hundreds of thousands of new token holders through more than $1.2 billion in token sales. With a global community of over 11M users, CoinList supports the full crypto lifecycle, from token sales through token distribution, trading, and staking. Learn more at www.coinlist.co . www.coinlist.co This story was distributed as a release by Btcwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here This story was distributed as a release by Btcwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here here here

Arcium Partners With CoinList To Launch Fully Unlocked Community Round,Empowering Users From Day One

Arcium se asocia con CoinList para lanzar una ronda comunitaria completamente desbloqueada, empoderando a los usuarios desde el primer día.

Arcium-ի գործընկերները CoinList-ով մեկնարկելու են ամբողջությամբ բացված համայնքի շրջանը՝ հնարավորություն տալով օգտվողներին առաջին իսկ օրվանից

Arcium collabora con CoinList per lanciare il round comunitario completamente sbloccato, dando potere agli utenti fin dal primo giorno

Arcium は CoinList と提携して完全にロック解除されたコミュニティ ラウンドを開始し、初日からユーザーに力を与えます

Arcium პარტნიორები CoinList-ით სრულად განბლოკილი საზოგადოების რაუნდის დასაწყებად, მომხმარებლების გაძლიერების პირველი დღიდან

Arcium партнери со CoinList за лансирање на целосно отклучен круг заедница, зајакнување на корисниците од првиот ден

آرشیم د کوین لیست سره ملګرتیا کوي ترڅو په بشپړ ډول خلاص شوي ټولنې پړاو پیل کړي، د لومړۍ ورځې څخه کاروونکو ته ځواک ورکړي

Arcium сотрудничает с CoinList для запуска полностью разблокированного раунда сообщества, расширяющего возможности пользователей с первого дня

Arcium, Kullanıcıları İlk Günden İtibaren Güçlendiren Tamamen Kilitsiz Topluluk Turunu Başlatmak İçin CoinList ile Ortaklık Kurdu

Arcium співпрацює з CoinList, щоб запустити повністю розблокований раунд спільноти, розширюючи можливості користувачів з першого дня

Arcium hợp tác với CoinList để ra mắt vòng cộng đồng mở khóa hoàn toàn, trao quyền cho người dùng ngay từ ngày đầu tiên

Arcium 与 CoinList 合作启动完全解锁社区轮，从第一天开始为用户赋能

Want to Buy Ed-Tech That Isn't Evil? Here's How

Do you know 80% of software engineers are not able to become senior software developers? Here is the reason why, and today in this article we are going to talk about that same thing. If you make all these mistakes, then right now stop, otherwise you will face a lot of problems. Reason 1: Using ChatGPT and Stack Overflow Blindly When you have a problem or encounter an error, you go to ChatGPT, you go to Stack Overflow, or somewhere else, and you directly paste the code. You should never do this. If you are copying and pasting code from anywhere, first understand what that code is doing — like why your code is not running or why another piece of code is running. Then, understand and override that code so that you truly grasp it. Stack Overflow Stack Overflow Understanding the Copy-Pasting Code Okay, further on — if in the future a similar issue comes up, I don’t have to copy-paste blindly. Copy-pasting isn’t a bad thing; every developer does it, and even senior engineers do it. The difference between a senior engineer and a junior engineer is that whenever they copy-paste the code, they understand what exactly it does, why it’s running or not running, and what might be causing the issue. Whenever you copy-paste a code, you always need to take the time to understand it first. This is a request to everyone: if you are ever copying and pasting code, first understand that code — then only copy-paste. Do not copy-paste blind. Reason 2: Lack of System Design and Scalability The second reason is that many do not use any sort of system design or consider scalability. This happens many times — lots of people work in service-based products or companies, but they are not at a high level in the team. They get repetitive tasks day in and day out, and they never really learn what to do beyond that repetitive task. They are not able to understand how professional-level code is written. Work on Personal Projects and Learn Design Patterns In many companies, there are no proper code reviews. Everyone just goes in, does their own thing, pushes their code, and if an error comes up, they fix it. That’s the problem. Instead, you should work on personal projects and learn design patterns. You cannot always fight with the company or with someone else; when you know what to do, you can work on your own projects. personal projects personal projects Apply system design, scalability topics, and design patterns because design patterns are very important whenever you work on production or write any good-level code. Everything is freely available — learn these things. Use ChatGPT or take courses if you need to. As long as your skills are improving, you don’t have to worry about money because money can be re-earned, but time you can’t earn back. So, upskill continuously. Reason 3: Not Taking Ownership The third reason is that many software engineers are not able to take ownership of their projects. When work comes to you, as a junior developer, you try to quickly handle it. But when you are a senior developer, you take complete ownership. If something comes your way, you say, “This I will properly build, I will test it, then only deploy it.” As a junior, you might not get to learn all these steps. Further on Ownership and Responsibility Even if you are working in a company where the protocols aren’t there, you should stop and ask yourself, “Am I doing the right thing?” After three or four years, you have to become a senior software engineer, and that means taking complete ownership of your projects. You have to test your code, debug it, and deploy it yourself. The sooner you start taking this ownership, the more benefits you will reap. Salary Expectations and Testing End-to-End And let’s be real — along with your salary, your expectations of how much you can increase it might not be as high as you think. After four or five years of experience, your salary may double, but that isn’t the only measure of growth. If you want to become a good developer, take ownership of whatever responsibility comes your way, test your work end-to-end, and communicate when problems arise. Reason 4: Poor Communication Skills Next, poor communication skills are a major barrier. Many are not able to speak well or connect with their project manager or client. This lack of communication is another key reason why most people are not able to become senior software engineers. Often, it’s because they are very introverted. If you can’t effectively communicate what you’re doing or what you need, it will hold you back from taking the project’s ownership and advancing your career. Reason 5: Not Upskilling So, what do you have to do if you want to become a senior software engineer? Everyone’s dream is to one day become a senior software developer, lead a team, and see their salary increase. But it starts with upskilling. Not everyone comes from a background that makes communication or technical growth easy, but you must not stop. You have to begin improving step by step. Taking Initiative to Learn New Technologies If you don’t know system design, design patterns, or how things like indexing and caching work, then you have to take that initiative. The moment you start taking ownership of your learning, you’re walking the same path as all senior software engineers. Upskilling is not just about doing what you’re already comfortable with — if you’re a back-end developer, learn about RabbitMQ, Redis, Kafka, and similar technologies. If you’re a front-end developer, polish your UI skills, and try to get hands-on experience with back-end technologies as well. back-end technologies back-end technologies Consistency and Long-Term Growth Upskilling doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time — six, seven months, or even a year of steady work — before you can jump to a senior software developer position. The key is to upskill yourself day by day. Upskilling Upskilling Final Thoughts If you are making mistakes like copying and pasting code without understanding it, not taking project ownership, not upskilling, or having poor communication skills, then it’s time to change immediately. If you want to become a senior software engineer in three to four years, start taking the right steps today. And if you’re moving in the right direction, keep going; if not, ask someone — or even ask yourself — how you can steer in the correct direction. That’s it for this article. I hope you found it helpful. If you have any comments or thoughts, please leave them below. If you liked this article, let me know in the comments as well. Until next time, goodbye and thank you! Let’s grow, learn, and build amazing things together! Don’t forget to clap like your heart content, save it to your list, and follow me. Stay connected with me on my other platforms:LinkedIn | dev.to| Bluesky | Hackernoon | Medium Stay connected with me on my other platforms:LinkedIn LinkedIn LinkedIn dev.to dev.to dev.to Bluesky | Hackernoon | Medium Bluesky Bluesky Hackernoon | Medium Hackernoon Medium

Here’s Why 80% of Software Engineers Never Become Senior Developers

From pizza orders to smart home cameras, empathetic AI is now nudging our decisions in real time. Can we keep up? A phone buzzes at 8:03 p.m., the end of a long day. It’s a text message from Jimmy the Surfer at the 44-year-old California chain called Pizza My Heart: “Hungry? How about that Pineapple-Ham combo you love?” He’s got a casual, laid-back tone, but there’s a catch: Jimmy isn’t a real surfer – or even a real human. Instead, he’s an AI chatbot, carefully trained to chat about pizza and gently persuade you to place that order. Sure, the conversation feels friendly – comforting even – but behind that breezy surfer lingo lies an algorithm that knows just when you’re most likely to say yes. And that raises a question: Is this harmless convenience, or a subtle form of manipulation? On the surface, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of convenience. Especially when you’re hungry and too tired to scroll through endless food options. But the new wave of empathetic AI goes beyond quick service or product recommendations. Armed with a keen ear and conversational flair, chatbots like Jimmy are purpose-built to tap into your preferences and moods. They do more than just take your order – they nudge you toward it. Emotionally Intelligent Technology Palona AI, the start-up powering Jimmy the Surfer, believes it can make life easier for workers at the chain. The company’s CEO and co-founder, Maria Zhang, told Wired the technology is “built with an ‘emotional intelligence’ language model designed to be effective in sales; the bot is familiar with things like humour, modern messaging etiquette, and ‘gentle persuasion.’” But the same empathy that makes interactions feel warm and human can also blur the line between customer service and manipulation. Where exactly lies the boundary between a service that assists us and one that influences our choices? When do we tip from guidance into manipulation and compromise consumer autonomy? That question isn’t theoretical. Seattle-based company Wyze, which sells security cameras, will soon deploy Palona AI’s technology on its website as a wizard, guiding shoppers to find the best product for their needs. The wizard, of course, nudges customers towards Wyze’s line up – and upsells Wyze’s Cam Plus Plan at every opportunity. Just like a real salesperson. It can also build your customer profile and remember your preferences (and concerns) for the next time. Palona AI already powers a chatbot at MindZero, a contrast therapy spa in South Carolina. Customers can message the business on Instagram with anything from pricing inquiries to personal questions, like whether it’s okay to be naked in the sauna. Zhang suggested the last question might be awkward to ask a human, but we can’t be sure AI makes a difference here: MindZero’s bot doesn’t say it’s AI. Nor does Jimmy the Surfer. And that’s where things get murky. Navigating the Rules That murkiness stems from the fact that users don’t always know they’re chatting with a bot in the first place. Palona AI, Pizza My Heart, MindZero, and Wyze are all based in the US, and US law doesn’t mandate disclosure. But the EU AI Act does. The EU AI Act has a different regulatory approach, requiring that users are aware they are interacting with AI. The EU also has existing privacy laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), but that doesn’t protect the emotional data these bots use. While the EU AI Act and GDPR lay down important principles like transparency, data minimisation, and risk-based oversight, they haven’t fully caught up with AI that’s programmed to handle emotions. Understanding the fine line between guidance and manipulation is important for policy makers as well as consumers: how can we trust systems that try to figure out what we want? EU AI Act: Transparency but Limited Scope The EU AI Act, still in the process of being refined, uses a risk-based classification. Systems deemed high-risk – for example, those in health care or critical infrastructure – face more stringent requirements: comprehensive documentation, auditing, and oversight. But a pizza-ordering chatbot or shopping assistant usually doesn’t qualify as high-risk. That means empathic AI designed to nudge you into extra toppings or a Cam Plus Plan may well bypass the Act’s toughest guardrails. The transparency requirement (in Article 52) requires disclosure that users are interacting with an AI. But, in practice, that’s easy to miss or ignore, too – especially if the AI is deeply woven into casual text channels. For EU businesses wanting to use empathetic chatbots, that has implications. The EU AI Act doesn’t prevent deploying LLMs that mimic empathy; it just requires a basic disclaimer. A single sentence, “Hi, I’m an AI assistant”, might be enough to satisfy legal obligations – but that doesn’t address ethical concerns. After all, we currently know when we’re talking to Sales or Customer Service, and we use that information in our decisions. Nevertheless, if your business wants to fine-tune a language model for brand-specific ‘gentle persuasion,’ you might not need to undergo the same level of compliance scrutiny as someone building, say, a medical AI system. GDPR: Personal vs Sensitive Data Meanwhile, GDPR classifies certain categories of data, e.g., health or biometric data, as ‘special category’, giving them heightened protection. Emotional data hasn’t (yet!) been slotted into that box, so an AI gently coaxing a user to purchase more may not be handling data recognised as sensitive by default. GDPR still mandates data minimisation and clear user consent for any collection or processing of personal data. But in many real-world scenarios, like messaging MindZero about sauna etiquette, users don’t consciously realise they’re handing over emotional cues. Or any data, actually, as a broad T&C check-box or cookie consent banner often passes for informed consent. When you’re juggling massive pipelines of user interactions for model retraining, that emotional context can, however, slip through the cracks. At the moment, most Data Protection Authorities focus on clear-cut privacy violations or major data breaches; subtle persuasion is unlikely to trigger an investigation until there’s a high-profile complaint. What about Data Security? Empathic AI adds a new layer of data security risk: emotional data. Security teams must consider how to store user interactions (possibly revealing stress, personal routines, or private concerns) and who has access. Even if the business abides by encryption and industry-standard practices, the value of emotional data can attract bad actors interested in exploiting private vulnerabilities. If your pipeline logs every user query, you might inadvertently amass a trove of sensitive insights. Existing regulations only partially address sentiment-laden data, so your security teams would need to apply their own safeguards. The Regulatory Blind Spot Altogether, neither the EU AI Act nor GDPR fully contemplates emotionally intelligent AI systems that persuade users in everyday shopping experiences. For businesses, this regulatory state offers both opportunity and risk: the chance to innovate free from immediate heavy-handed oversight, but also the risk of reputational blowback or future scrutiny if regulators decide that subtle emotional nudging crosses the line. For users, it’s tricky. So the next time your phone buzzes at 8:03 p.m. with a friendly text about pizza, think about what’s really happening. It could be an AI beneath a thin glossy veneer, tapping into your cravings, encouraging you to give in. Yes, it’s convenient. But it also highlights the growing gap between our desire for frictionless service and the need for robust guardrails around AI. Until regulation catches up, the warm, reassuring voice on the other end may be more than a helpful buddy. It might be a business strategy tuned to your emotional state in ways you’d never expected. Lead image credit: Adobe Stock | #364586649 From pizza orders to smart home cameras, empathetic AI is now nudging our decisions in real time. Can we keep up? From pizza orders to smart home cameras, empathetic AI is now nudging our decisions in real time. Can we keep up? A phone buzzes at 8:03 p.m., the end of a long day. It’s a text message from Jimmy the Surfer at the 44-year-old California chain called Pizza My Heart: “Hungry? How about that Pineapple-Ham combo you love?” He’s got a casual, laid-back tone, but there’s a catch: Jimmy isn’t a real surfer – or even a real human. Instead, he’s an AI chatbot, carefully trained to chat about pizza and gently persuade you to place that order. Sure, the conversation feels friendly – comforting even – but behind that breezy surfer lingo lies an algorithm that knows just when you’re most likely to say yes. And that raises a question: Is this harmless convenience, or a subtle form of manipulation? On the surface, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of convenience. Especially when you’re hungry and too tired to scroll through endless food options. But the new wave of empathetic AI goes beyond quick service or product recommendations. Armed with a keen ear and conversational flair, chatbots like Jimmy are purpose-built to tap into your preferences and moods. They do more than just take your order – they nudge you toward it. Emotionally Intelligent Technology Emotionally Intelligent Technology Palona AI, the start-up powering Jimmy the Surfer, believes it can make life easier for workers at the chain. The company’s CEO and co-founder, Maria Zhang, told Wired the technology is “built with an ‘emotional intelligence’ language model designed to be effective in sales; the bot is familiar with things like humour, modern messaging etiquette, and ‘gentle persuasion.’” Wired Wired But the same empathy that makes interactions feel warm and human can also blur the line between customer service and manipulation. Where exactly lies the boundary between a service that assists us and one that influences our choices? When do we tip from guidance into manipulation and compromise consumer autonomy? That question isn’t theoretical. Seattle-based company Wyze, which sells security cameras, will soon deploy Palona AI’s technology on its website as a wizard, guiding shoppers to find the best product for their needs. The wizard, of course, nudges customers towards Wyze’s line up – and upsells Wyze’s Cam Plus Plan at every opportunity. Just like a real salesperson. It can also build your customer profile and remember your preferences (and concerns) for the next time. Palona AI already powers a chatbot at MindZero, a contrast therapy spa in South Carolina. Customers can message the business on Instagram with anything from pricing inquiries to personal questions, like whether it’s okay to be naked in the sauna. Zhang suggested the last question might be awkward to ask a human, but we can’t be sure AI makes a difference here: MindZero’s bot doesn’t say it’s AI. Nor does Jimmy the Surfer. And that’s where things get murky. Navigating the Rules Navigating the Rules That murkiness stems from the fact that users don’t always know they’re chatting with a bot in the first place. Palona AI, Pizza My Heart, MindZero, and Wyze are all based in the US, and US law doesn’t mandate disclosure. But the EU AI Act does. The EU AI Act has a different regulatory approach, requiring that users are aware they are interacting with AI. The EU also has existing privacy laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), but that doesn’t protect the emotional data these bots use. While the EU AI Act and GDPR lay down important principles like transparency, data minimisation, and risk-based oversight, they haven’t fully caught up with AI that’s programmed to handle emotions. Understanding the fine line between guidance and manipulation is important for policy makers as well as consumers: how can we trust systems that try to figure out what we want? EU AI Act: Transparency but Limited Scope EU AI Act: Transparency but Limited Scope The EU AI Act, still in the process of being refined, uses a risk-based classification. Systems deemed high-risk – for example, those in health care or critical infrastructure – face more stringent requirements: comprehensive documentation, auditing, and oversight. But a pizza-ordering chatbot or shopping assistant usually doesn’t qualify as high-risk. That means empathic AI designed to nudge you into extra toppings or a Cam Plus Plan may well bypass the Act’s toughest guardrails. The transparency requirement (in Article 52) requires disclosure that users are interacting with an AI. But, in practice, that’s easy to miss or ignore, too – especially if the AI is deeply woven into casual text channels. For EU businesses wanting to use empathetic chatbots, that has implications. The EU AI Act doesn’t prevent deploying LLMs that mimic empathy; it just requires a basic disclaimer. A single sentence, “Hi, I’m an AI assistant”, might be enough to satisfy legal obligations – but that doesn’t address ethical concerns. After all, we currently know when we’re talking to Sales or Customer Service, and we use that information in our decisions. Nevertheless, if your business wants to fine-tune a language model for brand-specific ‘gentle persuasion,’ you might not need to undergo the same level of compliance scrutiny as someone building, say, a medical AI system. GDPR: Personal vs Sensitive Data GDPR: Personal vs Sensitive Data Meanwhile, GDPR classifies certain categories of data, e.g., health or biometric data, as ‘special category’, giving them heightened protection. Emotional data hasn’t (yet!) been slotted into that box, so an AI gently coaxing a user to purchase more may not be handling data recognised as sensitive by default. GDPR still mandates data minimisation and clear user consent for any collection or processing of personal data. But in many real-world scenarios, like messaging MindZero about sauna etiquette, users don’t consciously realise they’re handing over emotional cues. Or any data, actually, as a broad T&C check-box or cookie consent banner often passes for informed consent. When you’re juggling massive pipelines of user interactions for model retraining, that emotional context can, however, slip through the cracks. At the moment, most Data Protection Authorities focus on clear-cut privacy violations or major data breaches; subtle persuasion is unlikely to trigger an investigation until there’s a high-profile complaint. What about Data Security? What about Data Security? Empathic AI adds a new layer of data security risk: emotional data. Security teams must consider how to store user interactions (possibly revealing stress, personal routines, or private concerns) and who has access. Even if the business abides by encryption and industry-standard practices, the value of emotional data can attract bad actors interested in exploiting private vulnerabilities. If your pipeline logs every user query, you might inadvertently amass a trove of sensitive insights. Existing regulations only partially address sentiment-laden data, so your security teams would need to apply their own safeguards. The Regulatory Blind Spot The Regulatory Blind Spot Altogether, neither the EU AI Act nor GDPR fully contemplates emotionally intelligent AI systems that persuade users in everyday shopping experiences. For businesses, this regulatory state offers both opportunity and risk: the chance to innovate free from immediate heavy-handed oversight, but also the risk of reputational blowback or future scrutiny if regulators decide that subtle emotional nudging crosses the line. For users, it’s tricky. So the next time your phone buzzes at 8:03 p.m. with a friendly text about pizza, think about what’s really happening. It could be an AI beneath a thin glossy veneer, tapping into your cravings, encouraging you to give in. Yes, it’s convenient. But it also highlights the growing gap between our desire for frictionless service and the need for robust guardrails around AI. Until regulation catches up, the warm, reassuring voice on the other end may be more than a helpful buddy. It might be a business strategy tuned to your emotional state in ways you’d never expected. Lead image credit: Adobe Stock | #364586649 Lead image credit: Adobe Stock | #364586649 Adobe Stock | #364586649

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