Decentralized AI's Role In Transforming Web3 By 2025

According to Cointelegraph, a recent episode of Hashing It Out featured a conversation between host Elisha Owusu Akyaw and Michael Heinrich, co-founder and CEO of 0G Labs, discussing the transformative potential of decentralized artificial intelligence (DeAI) in the Web3 and AI landscapes by 2025. The dialogue underscored the urgency of decentralizing AI to enhance transparency and trust, as well as the challenges associated with AI alignment. At the heart of 0G Labs' mission is the development of a decentralized AI operating system, which Heinrich describes as a pivotal step toward achieving transparency and trust in the AI sector. This system is built on multiple layers, including decentralized storage, verifiable inference, and a service marketplace, akin to a mobile operating system that allows developers to create diverse AI applications on a decentralized foundation. Heinrich emphasized the importance of a modular approach, enabling users to select components such as storage, computing, or full-stack solutions, thus offering versatility for various AI applications. A significant portion of the discussion revolved around the risks posed by centralized AI. Heinrich expressed concerns about the potential dangers of AI development being monopolized by a few corporations, which could lead to unchecked power and misuse. He stressed the need for democratizing AI to ensure equitable access and shared benefits, aligning AI development with human values. Heinrich warned of the risks if AI remains in the hands of a few companies, questioning the consistency of aligning AI models with human values. The conversation also explored how AI could simplify the Web3 user experience. Heinrich envisioned AI agents replacing time-consuming processes with seamless, automated solutions, such as navigating wallets, bridges, and swaps. He illustrated this with an example where an AI agent could determine the best route and the cheapest way to purchase an asset, executing the transaction swiftly. This innovation, according to Heinrich, could make blockchain technology more accessible, facilitating broader adoption. The remainder of the podcast addressed challenges in aligning AI with human values, the role of 0G alignment nodes in addressing these issues, use cases for decentralized AI applications, and incentives for developers to build AI using Web3 technology. The full episode of Hashing It Out is available on Cointelegraph’s podcast page and other major podcast platforms.