The Next Paradigm Is User-Centric Agent, Not Platform-Centric Service

TL;DR

This paper advocates shifting from platform-centric digital services to user-centric agents that prioritize user needs, privacy, and control, leveraging advancements in large language models and on-device intelligence.

Contribution

It proposes a practical device-cloud pipeline for implementing user-centric agents and discusses governance and ecosystem requirements for adoption.

Findings

User-centric agents enhance privacy and user control.

Advancements in LLMs enable feasible implementation.

A new device-cloud pipeline supports this transition.

Abstract

Modern digital services have evolved into indispensable tools, driving the present large-scale information systems. Yet, the prevailing platform-centric model, where services are optimized for platform-driven metrics such as engagement and conversion, often fails to align with users' true needs. While platform technologies have advanced significantly-especially with the integration of large language models (LLMs)-we argue that improvements in platform service quality do not necessarily translate to genuine user benefit. Instead, platform-centric services prioritize provider objectives over user welfare, resulting in conflicts against user interests. This paper argues that the future of digital services should shift from a platform-centric to a user-centric agent. These user-centric agents prioritize privacy, align with user-defined goals, and grant users control over their preferences and actions. With advancements in LLMs and on-device intelligence, the realization of this vision is now feasible. This paper explores the opportunities and challenges in transitioning to user-centric intelligence, presents a practical device-cloud pipeline for its implementation, and discusses the necessary governance and ecosystem structures for its adoption.