Zachary Schenkler on Personal AI: Key Insights into Data Ownership, Agentic Systems, and the Future of Digital Evolution
- Nico Fara
- Jun 24
- 4 min read
This week on the Immergence Show, we were thrilled to host Zachary Schenkler, Chief Imagination Officer at Balnce AI and a visionary behind the concept of the "internet of agents." He is a recognized voice in the field of human-AI interaction and decentralized technology. Schenkler shared profound insights into why owning your AI is the next step in digital evolution, how agentic systems are poised to replace traditional advertising, and what happens when imagination becomes truly executable. This article distills the key educational takeaways and pivotal insights from our discussion.
While we explore the core concepts here, to truly grasp the depth of Schenkler's vision, including his candid story about how the events of September 11th, 2001, spurred his transition into technology and entrepreneurship, the full video interview is a must-watch.
The Dawn of Personal AI and Sovereign Control
Zachary Schenkler posits that the current paradigm of technology, where platforms own and personalize data for their benefit, is fundamentally flawed. He introduces the concept of Personal AI as an intimate, loyal extension of the individual, learned by and for them, with the user maintaining sovereign control over their data. This shift from "personalization by platforms" to "personal AI" emphasizes trust and individual agency.
Key Insight: "Personal AI is intimate. Personal AI is yours. Personal AI is learned by you, learned for you, learned with you... it is something that is trusted because you maintain your sovereign control over it."
Building Trust: The Local-First Approach and Decentralized Infrastructure
Addressing the critical need for trust and security in the age of personal data, Schenkler advocates for a "local-first" mentality in architectural design. This means applications and data primarily reside on the user's device, enabling offline functionality and inherent privacy. While blockchain plays a role, it's not the sole solution; rather, a layered approach incorporating security, privacy, and data obfuscation is essential. He highlights the increasing trend of hardware manufacturers empowering individual devices as a testament to this evolving landscape.
Key Insight: "The mindset and the concept of how we construct this is always from a local first mentality... I can cut off all network connectivity, and I can work with that application. I can work with my data. I can work with my creations by myself. Nobody can see that, nobody can access that."
Agentic Systems: Amplifying Human Agency and Redefining Commerce
Schenkler envisions agentic systems not as tools for mere automation, but as extensions of human agency, empowering individuals to grow beyond their confines. He showcases a prototype illustrating an "internet of agents" where personal AI agents interact with brand agents to facilitate fluid commerce based on individual goals and aspirations, rather than intrusive advertisements. This redefines the relationship between consumers and businesses, allowing individuals to "advertise" their needs and desires directly.
Key Insight: "It's all agent to agent, and it's all pure communication."
Ethical AI and Lifelong Learning in a New Digital Era
The discussion delves into the ethical implications of personal AI, with Schenkler emphasizing that individual ethics, or "world view," will be a core component of one's personal AI. This allows for personalized ethical frameworks rather than mandated platform ethics. He also envisions a transformative impact on industries like education and healthcare. Education will shift towards "lifelong learning" and the creation of custom learning environments facilitated by personal AI and digital twins. In healthcare, owning and controlling personal biomedical data will enable real-time sharing for critical situations and groundbreaking medical research.
Key Insight: "Your individual ethics, how you think, how you feel, how you view, how you treat, how you want to be treated, is going to be part of what we call your world engine."
Looking Ahead: Schenkler's Vision for a Sovereign Future
Zachary Schenkler believes that the future of technology lies in empowering the individual, making every person a "sovereign creator." This vision is underpinned by the removal of barriers to creation and the enabling of a reciprocal economy built on authentic relationships. He asserts that the next generation, Gen Z, with their inherent understanding of privacy and desire for independence, will be the driving force behind this "tsunami of a movement."
For Schenkler's full, unfiltered predictions on where the internet of agents is heading – including some truly eye-opening scenarios discussed off-the-cuff regarding the "reverse subscription" model and the future of work – the complete Immergence Show episode is unmissable.
About Your Host & The Immergence Show
Nico Fara is a Business Strategist, Product Marketer, and passionate Community Builder specializing in the vibrant intersection of AI, Gaming, XR, Fashion, and Consumer Tech. With a talent for translating visionary tech into compelling product strategies and fostering thriving, engaged communities, Nico empowers brands to connect authentically with their audiences and drive impactful growth. Explore Nico's insights further by visiting her website or connect on LinkedIn.
About The Immergence Show: Get your weekly dose of community and cutting-edge insights on The Immergence Show, a thriving live community event where innovation in AI, XR, Web3, Gaming, and Retail-Tech meets a deeply engaged global community. We host interactive discussions with industry pioneers, ensuring our audience of creative technologists, entrepreneurs, and brand executives leaves with fresh perspectives and actionable knowledge. Join the live experience every Tuesday at 12 PM EST on LinkedIn, catch up on all past episodes via our YouTube Channel and find more resources on our website.
Comments