Working on an essay on different progress cycles in tech/products that need people to participate (web3, social media, marketplaces, etc...) in order to work vs. those that don't (AI, biotech, etc...). 

Has anyone read anything good on this / have any thoughts?

AI needs people (training data) but just currently doesn’t ask for permission or compensate them :)

Crypto/web3. Author of Read Write Own

readwriteown.com

haha yes. 

it needs peoples' past work but not their ongoing participation.

@backpack put a bank in your pocket and use your money whenever, wherever, however without permission

/backpack
/notdevin
icebreaker.xyz/notdevin

better wording: there's no network effects/Metcalfe's Law dynamic. It's as useful (and maybe even more useful to me) if I'm the only person using it as it would be if a million people were using it.

Are prompts not active participation? 

What AI doesn’t require active participation?