Attention is the only moat.

Companies always try to make it seem like data is valuable. Attention is valuable. With attention, you get the data for free. What they monetize is attention. Data is a small part to optimize the sale of ads but attention is the important commodity.

Why else are celebrities so well paid?

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ndr 9 hours ago | parent | next [-]

This surely works with consumer product. Does it equally apply to b2b?

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wolttam 9 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

User attention to get user data?

I feel like the the data to drive the really interesting capabilities (biological, chemical, material, etc, etc, etc) is not going to come in large part from end users.

	▲	OkayPhysicist 9 hours ago \| parent [-]
		It's the other way around. You gather user data so that you can better capture the user's attention. Attention is the valuable resource here: with attention you can shift opinions, alter behaviors, establish norms. Attention is influence.

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iwontberude 8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Corruption is the only moat. Oligarchs can buy anything and funnel attention and money into it, creating financial success for shareholders despite poor leadership, zero social responsibility, suboptimal ideas and execution (see: Tesla)

Just commit fraud repeatedly while owning the people who run DoJ, easy peasy, no amount of attention or cash flow can displace that.