PL Updates: Exploring LabWeek Field Building & Interplanetary Shipyard Launch
Plus: A deep dive into web3's gaming potential with thirdweb, news from around the network, and a Q&A spotlight with Bagel's Founder, Bidhan Roy.
LabWeek Field Building at Edge Esmeralda
Join us from June 10-16 for LabWeek Field Building, a transformative decentralized conference set in the pop-up village of Edge Esmeralda, Healdsburg, CA. This week-long event, created in partnership with The Foresight Institute, will dive deep into Neurotech, Human-AI Cooperation, Biotech, and Extended Reality (XR), among other frontier sciences. The conference will also touch on cross-disciplinary topics including robotics, nanotechnology, decentralized science (DeSci), biodiversity, and space exploration.
Attendance for this event is limited, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to critical conversations and collaborations that aim to solve global challenges and expand our horizons.
—> Would you like to submit a contribution to the LabWeek Field Building program at Edge Esmeralda? Fill out this form.
Be sure to subscribe to our dedicated newsletter here to stay up to date.
⚙️ New Tool Alert: Meet Interplanetary Shipyard
Launched: April 2024
What It Is: The developers behind IPFS and libp2p have launched an independent collective known as Interplanetary Shipyard. This new team is dedicated to maintaining and innovating within the IPFS and libp2p ecosystems, focusing on supporting users and building critical infrastructure for the decentralized web.
Why It's a Big Deal: Interplanetary Shipyard represents an evolution in the governance of these foundational technologies. Moving towards a decentralized governance model, the initiative aims to enhance transparency, resiliency, and community involvement in the development process. This shift ensures that the development and stewardship of IPFS and libp2p are more reflective of the community's needs and less dependent on any single entity.
The Big Picture: By establishing itself as an independent entity, Interplanetary Shipyard is set to foster greater innovation and collaboration within the space. The collective will not only troubleshoot and improve existing implementations but also drive a public goods roadmap that bridges web2 and web3 technologies.
For more details on their initiatives and how to engage with their work, visit the Interplanetary Shipyard's website here.
🎥 New Episode Alert: How Web3 Gaming Can Go Mainstream
Jake Loo, CTO of thirdweb, dives into the current state and future potential of web3 gaming in the latest Building Web3 episode. Despite initial setbacks where early web3 games prioritized quick profits over engaging gameplay, Loo outlines how true innovation in gaming is not only possible, but necessary. He highlights the transformative aspects of web3, such as enhanced transparency, liquidity, and user-generated content, which can revolutionize gaming by making experiences more interactive and personalized. Watch the full episode here:
ProtoSphere: Your Gateway to dSocial Engagement
Don’t miss our dynamic dSocial forum designed to enhance collaboration and innovation within the PL network. As a virtual hub for the community, ProtoSphere offers a platform where members can discuss a variety of topics ranging from technical architecture decisions and product-market fit strategies to company-building and web3 applications.
Whether you’re looking to provide feedback on a product roadmap, share insights on legal and business operations, or seek advice on technical challenges and fundraising, ProtoSphere is your go-to resource. Login to access network-only posts & features here.
Expanding Network
We're delighted to introduce the latest additions to our vibrant community:
Celo is scaling Ethereum with real-world solutions, leading a thriving new digital economy for all.
DeSciWorld is the one-stop shop for users to view, engage with, and understand all that is happening in the World of Decentralised Science.
Drips is a toolkit for funding your critical software dependencies.
Earth Commons is exploring the funding and governance of nature’s commons.
Edge City convenes people working at the frontiers of tech, science, and society in popup villages across the globe for 1 - 2 months.
Edge Network is a distributed computing paradigm which brings data storage and computation as close to the point of need as possible.
Foresight Institute supports the beneficial development of high-impact technology to make great futures more likely.
Golem Foundation funds, develops, and promotes projects that further advance the vision of Golem.
growthepie is a public goods data platform designed specifically for Ethereum scaling solutions.
Internet Archive provides free access to web history for researchers, historians, scholars, people with print disabilities, and the general public.
Optimism aims to create a new internet that benefits all and is owned by none.
Orbis Labs provides developer-friendly data tooling and decentralized storage solutions.
Radicle is an open source, peer-to-peer code collaboration stack built on Git.
Vitalia is a city that focuses on accelerating the progress of life extension technologies.
Wikipedia is a free content online encyclopedia written and maintained by a community of volunteers.
Each of these esteemed teams brings unique perspectives and valuable contributions to our shared mission. We’re excited to embark on this collaborative journey together!
📡 Network Radar
Planning to attend Consensus later this month? Join us for the PL meetup on Tuesday, May 28 where you can connect with network teams from around the world and engage with friends new and old. Get a sneak peek into who will be in town from our IRL gathering.
Privy unveiled a new global wallet feature that consolidates assets, balances, and activities across all apps, enhancing user control. This update allows seamless funding from external sources and gives users the flexibility to export keys and manage identities according to their privacy preferences. Learn more here.
From May 17 to June 7, join the vibrant community at HackFS 2024 for a month-long hackathon aimed at advancing the frontier of web3 technology. Engage in creative problem-solving across a variety of challenges to win from a prize pool of $200,000. Learn more here.
In an insightful piece by Marc Johnson, Nova Energy discusses ways to minimize the environmental impact of digital technologies. As global regulations tighten, Nova Energy explores innovative ways for companies to turn regulatory challenges into opportunities for efficiency in sustainable practices. Read the full article here.
Catch up on the latest from the Protocol Labs Engineering and Research (EngRes) Working Group. Discover updates on Libp2p's community and Retro-PGF-1 initiatives, Textile's Project "Basin", and the latest on FIL RetroPGF. Watch it here.
Read this thoughtful retrospective by Evan Miyazono on the recent Mathematical Boundaries workshop that honed in on mathematical design and model development.
Join the Web3 AI Hackathon starting May 30th, presented by Encode Club. This month-long event offers workshops, challenges, and a chance to present innovative solutions to leading industry experts. Learn more here.
Explore the Filecoin Fund for Cultural Preservation, actively seeking projects that use decentralized storage to safeguard cultural heritage. With $100,000 in match funding, sponsored by the Filecoin Foundation for the Decentralized Web and Artizen, this fund supports the preservation and dissemination of diverse cultural works. Learn more here.
Finnt is now available to the public. With Finnt, you can ingest intricate files, design tailored analysis frameworks, choose from a range of LLM options, and enhance reports with third-party data—all seamlessly incorporated into existing workflows. Learn more here.
⭐Key Event: LabWeek Field Building at Edge Esmeralda
At Edge Esmeralda, you'll experience the convergence of technology and nature like never before. The popup village is strategically located along the scenic Serependipity Lane, a 7-minute bike path that meanders along the riverside, connecting clusters of activity and coworking spaces. It's the perfect setting for chance encounters with fellow attendees and leisurely walks with newfound friends.
As the event draws nearer, we'll continue to share updates and details about the venue and program. In the meantime, don't forget to submit your full application to secure your spot. Attendance is limited. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. We are reviewing applications on a rolling basis until all slots are filled.
See you soon under the California sun!
Spotlight Q&A
This week we put a spotlight on Bidhan Roy, founder and CEO of Bagel, to learn more about his journey, insights, and vision for the future of web3.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a machine learning and data engineer by background. I previously led the team building Amazon Alexa's ML infrastructure, one of the biggest AI/ML systems in the world, reaching 100M+ devices globally. I also led Instacart's data infrastructure, CashApp’s AML efforts and led a prominent Layer 1 blockchain’s ecosystem growth.
I’m now building Bagel. The world’s first live decentralized ML platform. Merging state-of-the-art AI and permissionless blockchain.
How did you get into web3?
I was part of the founding team of the Bitcoin trading platform of CashApp back in 2017. That was my first exposure to blockchain. Since then I have continued going down the web3 rabbit hole and never looked back.
What advice would you give to someone joining web3?
I’d encourage everyone to not think of web3 as a separate industry. Web3 is more than a niche. It parallels the impact of the Internet and AI. It serves as a new base layer for technology, poised to reshape all industries.
What challenges or rough edges would you like to see solved in web3?
Web3 has an interface problem. Freedom in self-custody comes with the additional burden of managing the infrastructure. We at Bagel hope to solve a lot of it through AI.
What are your favorite podcasts or books?
Any work by Rene Girard and the derivatives of it. Violence and the sacred and Wanting are good examples.
Tell us something you like to do for fun.
I am an avid soccer player and used to captain the university soccer team as a student. I have continued playing it ever since.
📅 PL Events
Bookmark the PL Events page to stay up to date! Here are upcoming highlights:
May 28: PL Meetup @ Consensus in Austin, TX
May 29-31: Filecoin Booth at Consensus in Austin, TX
May 30: Filecoin Orbit Web3 Fusion BBQ in Austin, TX
June 10-16: LabWeek Field Building in Edge Esmeralda, CA
July 8-10: FIL Brussels Network Base in Brussels, Belgium
July 10-11: Filecoin Booth at EthCC in Brussels, Belgium
📝 Tips?
Have a suggestion for the next PL Updates newsletter? We’d love to hear from you! Contact Sara Hamdan at sara.hamdan@protocol.ai.