Introduction: As the digital economy continues to expand, there is a growing tendency among people to view artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency as distinct and unrelated technologies. However, this is a misguided perception, as both have the potential to enhance each other’s capabilities. In this article, we will delve into the reasons why AI and Web3 need each other and why it is crucial to develop both technologies.
Dismissing the Simplification of Web3, Blockchain, and Crypto
When people consider Web3, blockchain, and cryptocurrency, they often perceive them as disparate and interchangeable components. However, the underlying unifying feature of these projects is the novel system of distributed record-keeping and incentives they employ to address the fundamental issue of human trust in information. These technologies enable communities of distrustful strangers to collectively maintain open data records, enabling them to distribute and share valuable or sensitive information among themselves without relying on intermediaries.
The Urgency of AI and Web3 in a Decentralized Environment
Web3, cryptocurrency, and blockchain respond to a societal challenge that has existed since the inception of the internet: how to keep valuable information secure in a decentralized environment. However, in the age of AI, where uncertainty over information is skyrocketing, this challenge has become evenmore pressing.
Correcting the Misconceptions of Cryptocurrency’s Roots
The issue of people failing to recognize the significance of this new data architecture dates back to the founding of Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency that began it all. The messaging surrounding Bitcoin should have emphasized information sharing and privacy protection, as those were the primary concerns of the cypherpunks whose mailing list Satoshi Nakamoto used to reveal the Bitcoin white paper in October 2008. Early Bitcoin enthusiasts, including Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin, recognized that this decentralized data architecture could be applied to the many challenges we face when sharing valuable information in the digital age.
Setbacks Caused by Misunderstanding
The misconception that cryptocurrencies and blockchains were solely about money has impeded progress, perpetuating a harmful data manipulation structure by giant internet platforms that has eroded trust in our information systems and democracy. Had there been a broader understanding of their potential, this industry would have readily addressed its inherent scaling, legal, and privacy challenges.
The Challenges of the AI Moment
The challenges posed by the AI era are daunting, from protecting copyright in the inputs of large language models (LLMs) to avoiding racial bias in their outputs and the “liar’s dividend” fostered by our present incapacity to differentiate between real content and AI-generated fabrications. There is no easy solution to saving humanity from the machines. Whatever solution emerges will inevitably rely on a wide range of technologies and policies.
The Need for Decentralized Governance in the New Era
We require a decentralized governance system for how we produce, verify, and share information in this new era. Immutable ledgers enable us to track the provenance of images and other content, which could protect against deep fakes. The same applies to testing the integrity of the datasets on which machine learning AI products are trained. Cryptocurrencies could be used to pay people worldwide, in a borderless digital manner, for their contributions to AI training. Projects such as Bittensor are constructing tokenized, blockchain-governed communities that incentivize AI developers to build models that are more user-friendly, addressing the concern that AI systems owned by private corporations are incentivized to prioritize shareholders’ profits over users’ rights.
The Potential of Web3 and AI
To dismiss Web3, blockchain, cryptocurrency, or whatever you prefer to call it, as a “has-been” with no place in the emerging digital future is to misunderstand the problem at hand severely. There is a long way to go before these ideas can deliver on their promise at the necessary scale, if they ever will. Nonetheless, success will necessitate the integration of various other technologies, including zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic encryption, secure computing, digital identities and decentralized credentials, IoT, as well as smart, multi-stakeholder legislation that protects privacy, punishes bad behavior, and encourages human-centric innovation.
The Synergy of Web3 and AI
In conclusion, AI and Web3 are two technologies that complement each other and can enhance each other’s capabilities, particularly in addressing the basic issue of human trust in information. To achieve this, we need a decentralized governance system for how we produce, verify, and share information in this new era. While there are challenges in integrating these technologies, the potential benefits are immense, from protecting against deep fakes and avoiding racial bias in AI outputs to incentivizing AI developers to build human-friendly models. We must move beyond the reductionist simplification of Web3, blockchain, and cryptocurrency and recognize their significance in the emerging digital future.
FAQs:
What is Web3 technology?
Web3 technology is a decentralized network that enables individuals to interact with decentralized applications (DApps) without intermediaries. It relies on blockchain technology, cryptography, and smart contracts to facilitate transactions and data exchange.
What is the relationship between AI and Web3?
AI and Web3 are complementary technologies that can enhance each other’s capabilities. Web3 provides a decentralized infrastructure that can improve the security and privacy of AI applications. AI, on the other hand, can help enhance the efficiency and accuracy of Web3 applications.
What are some of the challenges facing the integration of AI and Web3?
Some of the challenges facing the integration of AI and Web3 include protecting against deep fakes, avoiding bias in AI outputs, and developing decentralized governance systems that protect privacy and encourage human-centric innovation.
How can blockchain technology help address the challenges of AI?
Blockchain technology can help address the challenges of AI by providing an immutable ledger that allows for the tracking of the provenance of images and other content, protecting against deep fakes, and testing the integrity of datasets on which AI products are trained.
What is the potential impact of Web3 and AI?
The potential impact of Web3 and AI is immense. By working together, they can help address the fundamental issue of human trust in information and facilitate the secure and efficient exchange of valuable data. This can lead to a range of benefits, from improving the accuracy and efficiency of AI applications to incentivizing developers to build user-friendly models. However, realizing this potential will require the integration of various other technologies and policies, as well as a decentralized governance system that protects privacy and encourages innovation.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial or professional advice. Any investment decisions are solely your responsibility. Conduct your own research and seek professional advice before making any financial decisions. We do not endorse any product, service or company mentioned, and use of information is at your own risk.