I've been thinking a lot lately about where we're headed with digital interfaces, and honestly, I think we're on the brink of something massive that most people aren't seeing yet.
Every app I use these days feels like it's just a fancy database with some UI slapped on top. Stripe? It's a payments database. Notion? Content database. Salesforce? Customer database. You get the idea. And now with MCP (Model Context Protocol) starting to replace HTTP as the way systems talk to each other, I'm convinced we're heading toward what I'm calling "The Great Interface Collapse."
Here's my theory: everything's going to boil down to just chat and voice. And Slack? It might just eat the entire internet.
Everything's Just Data Now
Look, I've been working with various SaaS tools for years, and I've noticed something interesting. The real value isn't in those flashy dashboards or mobile apps anymore - it's in the data these companies have and how smart they are about organizing it.
Take any modern business tool. The interface is almost always the least important part. What matters is whether it can store my data properly and let me (or my AI) access it when needed. The rest is just window dressing.
MCP Changes Everything
I first heard about Model Context Protocol a few months ago, and it clicked for me immediately. This isn't just another API standard - it's like HTTP, but for AI agents. Instead of just linking documents together, it lets AI understand and interact with any data source directly.
Think about what this means. My AI assistant could pull data from my CRM, check my calendar, analyze my expenses, and update my project management tool - all in one conversation. No switching between apps, no copying and pasting, no learning new interfaces.
Why Keep All These Interfaces?
This is where it gets interesting for me. If AI can understand what I want in plain English and execute across multiple systems, why do I need to learn Salesforce's interface? Or HubSpot's dashboard? Or Asana's project views?
Slack's Quiet Revolution
Here's what I find fascinating about Slack's position in all this. Everyone thinks of it as just another messaging app, but I think they're missing the bigger picture.
Slack has already become my command center. I get notifications from every tool I use. I can trigger workflows, search across platforms, and coordinate with my team - all without leaving one interface. It's like they accidentally built the foundation for something much bigger.
My Vision of the Slack-Centric Future
Picture this: Instead of bookmarking websites or installing apps, you just have conversations. Need to check your finances? Ask in Slack. Want to see how your marketing campaigns are performing? Chat about it. Planning a trip? Voice message your AI assistant.
The Internet Becomes Conversational
This is where my thinking gets really wild. What if the internet itself becomes conversational? Instead of browsing websites or navigating apps, we just talk to AI agents that can access any information or service we need.
I'm already seeing hints of this with how I use ChatGPT and other AI tools. I rarely "Google" things anymore - I just ask. But imagine when that AI can also book flights, update spreadsheets, send emails, and manage my entire digital life.
Slack could become the interface through which I access everything. Not just work tools, but the entire internet's worth of services and information.
The Network Effect Is Real
I've watched this play out with my own team. Once we started using Slack as our central hub, productivity shot up. Less time switching apps, less cognitive overhead, better communication flow.
Now imagine this at scale. When entire organizations realize they can replace dozens of specialized interfaces with conversational workflows, the old way of doing things starts looking pretty inefficient.
Some Concerns I Have
Don't get me wrong - this transformation worries me a bit too. What happens to data ownership if one platform controls all our interactions? Are we creating new digital divides for people who struggle with conversational interfaces? And honestly, will we lose something important about user experience design if everything just becomes chat?
These aren't small questions. But I also think the efficiency gains might be too compelling to ignore.
What I'm Seeing Already
The signs are everywhere if you look closely. Microsoft is betting big on AI integration across Teams. Google's search is becoming more conversational. Voice assistants are getting scary good at multi-step tasks.
I've started structuring my own work around conversational patterns, and I can't imagine going back to the old way of juggling multiple interfaces.
Conclusion
Whether it's Slack specifically or something else that captures this opportunity, I'm convinced we're heading toward a fundamentally different way of interacting with digital information. The internet as we know it - clicking through websites, navigating complex software - might start feeling as outdated as using DOS commands.
I'm not saying this will happen overnight, but the trajectory seems pretty clear to me. We're moving from a click-and-navigate internet to a conversational one. And platforms like Slack are perfectly positioned to become the gateway to everything.
Maybe I'm wrong about this, but I've got a feeling that in five years, explaining how we used to switch between dozens of different apps and websites is going to sound as bizarre as describing dial-up internet to a Gen Z kid.
What are your thoughts? Do you see Slack or similar platforms becoming the universal interface for everything? Are you excited about a more conversational internet, or concerned about the implications? I'd love to hear your perspective on where we're headed.
The age of interfaces is ending. The age of conversation has already begun.