A new post by researcher Teng Yan explains how a violent collision of AI and Web3 tech will end up with the two married in a mutual corner of each industry, and enrich our lives.

Crypto’s Role in AI Infrastructure

While AI advancements are accelerating, they often rely on centralized systems controlled by major tech companies. This centralization raises concerns about accessibility, transparency, and control. Blockchain technology, with its decentralized nature, offers solutions to these challenges by providing open, permissionless access to computing resources and data.

The thread emphasizes that crypto isn’t about creating AI models, but about facilitating the infrastructure that powers them. By leveraging blockchain’s capabilities, developers can build AI systems that are more transparent, equitable, and resistant to centralized control.

Decentralized Compute and Data Access

One of the key points discussed is the emergence of decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePINs). These networks, such as Aethir allow individuals to contribute computing power to a distributed system, earning tokens in return. Such models democratize access to computational resources, enabling broader participation in AI development.

Additionally, blockchain can facilitate decentralized data marketplaces, ensuring that AI models are trained on diverse and representative datasets. This approach can mitigate biases and promote fairness in AI applications.

Smart Contracts and Autonomous Agents

The integration of smart contracts into AI workflows is another area of exploration. Smart contracts can automate processes, enforce rules, and manage transactions without human intervention. When combined with AI, they can enhance the creation of autonomous agents to operate transparently and efficiently within decentralized ecosystems.

The Path Forward

The episode concludes by acknowledging that while the convergence of crypto and AI is still in its early stages, the potential is immense. By addressing current limitations in AI development through decentralized infrastructure, the tech community can pave the way for more inclusive and robust AI systems.

As the fields of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence continue to evolve, their intersection offers promising avenues for innovation. Embracing this convergence could lead to a future where AI technologies are not only more powerful but also more accessible and aligned with the principles of decentralization.