Martin Michálek on WebTop100 Podcast: Website Speed, Business, and the Future of Websites in the AI Era
Martin Michálek9/29/20253 minutes reading
Website speed is a topic long discussed, yet far from obsolete. Time and again, it proves to be the deciding factor in the success of digital projects.
In the WebTop100 podcast, Michal Mládek questions Martin on why website speed isn't a closed chapter, how it ties into business, and how the role of websites is evolving in the age of AI.
Key Topics from the Discussion
- Website speed as a still overlooked factor with a direct impact on revenue.
- Core Web Vitals: a good foundation, but true speed is a far broader topic.
- Why "better hosting" isn't sufficient and where to truly look for improvements.
- Developer errors – from focusing on third parties to identifying issues on one's own side.
- How to begin: from monitoring, Google Search Console, through quick fixes to strategy.
- AI vs. the web: will websites disappear, or will their roles simply change?
- Where AI does (or does not) make sense in optimizing website speed.
Three Main Takeaways from the Podcast
1. Speed = Business
Companies often perceive website speed as a "technical detail". However, it's a hard business factor.
The difference between loading key content in two seconds versus four can mean a significant difference in conversion rates. And that difference immediately reflects in revenue. Or in traffic, as with the deNatura project where we contributed to a 17% increase in traffic.
“Website speed is the Cinderella of the digital world. Everyone focuses on trending topics, but when the customer arrives, success often hinges on how quickly the website responds.”
Speed isn't just about the page loading faster. It's about whether the customer completes their order at all. Slower websites increase abandonment rates and reduce the return on marketing investments.
2. Core Web Vitals and Better Hosting Aren't Enough
Google set Core Web Vitals as a basic benchmark. It was a good prompt for companies to start measuring speed. But it's not the final goal.
A website can meet Core Web Vitals and still be unpleasantly slow in real-world use.
It's necessary to look at speed comprehensively – not only at metrics like LCP or INP, but also at how the page behaves in the hands of a real user.
“Advice? Buy a cheap phone on Alza and try using your website on it.”
3. AI and the Future of Websites
The question echoing today: will AI replace websites? According to Martin, no. But their role will fundamentally change.
Purely content-based websites or catalogs will face challenges – AI can respond faster, without clicking. Conversely, brand, community, or transactional websites will grow in importance because they offer trust, official information, and additional services.
Companies should ask themselves: what do we offer that AI cannot? Whether it's community, personal experience, or customer service, that's what will keep websites relevant.
Initially, people will stop visiting websites that lack added value compared to AI or provide a poor user experience, such as being slow.
Listen to the Full Conversation
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Tags:Web Performance