Whatsapp: Now that they can no longer read your messages, how will they make money?

Conversations are now encrypted end to end. Since as they say Whatsapp has no access to the messages, and they earn only from data mining, how will they earn money?

The future of Whatsapp and Facebook messenger is Chatbots.

When it comes to programs that have conversations with you, you already know about Microsoft's racist chatbot Tay. [1]

Tay is a clumsy, early mis-step of the software companies taking over customer support, IT support and sales support. [2]

But also your calendar, your email and your banking.

And if Facebook have anything to do with it, you'll be doing all of this via their messenger apps.

I have never understood why people think Facebook wants to sell your privacy.

Privacy = Trust = Your Time = Adverts = Money

Ergo, Privacy = Profit.

Facebook has no interest in selling your privacy, its too valuable to them. [3]

Apple fighting the US Government over encryption is part of their marketing budget.

We have always known that Time is Money. The internet just made it into an equation.

Revenue = Posts scrolled past * advertising load per 1,000 posts * cost per 1,000 views

Facebook got into messaging because people got into messaging. They saw the time usage and they knew the money would follow.

And that follow is another simple equation:

Revenue = user support requests * chatbot usage rate * cost per chatbot interaction

Apple have Siri and Microsoft have Cortana. They have been huge successes. But many people prefer writing. And guess what, Siri and Cortana are advertising unfriendly!

Remember every messenger user is somebody who found text communication more appropriate or superior to a phone call.

Although currently there are often humans behind these chatbots [4] , humans are unlikely to be part of this particular future.

Chatbots are going to make interacting with companies, and your employer, much easier. If it works the call center and support desk are dead.

I visited my bank a little while ago to discuss mortgages. Sat down opposite the titularbank manager, I asked about interest rates. "Let me just bring that up", he said as he went to the relevant webpage.

Remember when bank managers were important and not simply sales guys who point at their website? Remember when they were pillars of the community like George out of Its a Wonderful Life?

Now imagine you sat down with your HR manager, asking for a pay rise or maternity leave, and that manager saying "Let me just ask my Chatbot".

If you are a programmer, you might want to start working on your chatbot. If you're not you might want to join the basic income bandwagon.