Blockchain could solve the monopolized AI ecosystem

The AI industry has long represented a "vision of the future" for humanity, be it in films, animated series, or even real life. Computers, once depicted as serving, thinking, and acting on behalf of humans in futuristic narratives except in the Dune series are now closer than ever to becoming reality.

Over the last five years, artificial intelligence has ascended to one of the most-discussed topics globally, surpassed only by the Covid-19 pandemic. People are captivated by the industry's explosive growth and the myriad ways it can be applied. This momentum is projected to continue at a breakneck pace, with Statista estimating that the current $184 billion market could surge to nearly $900 billion by 2030.

As AI integrates further into daily life, shaping how we think, interact, and accomplish both simple and complex tasks, it seems inevitable that we’ll become increasingly entwined with it—perhaps even more so than we are with the internet today.

Currently, most of the most sophisticated AI systems are under the control of major tech giants like OpenAI, IBM Watson, Google AI, and Amazon Machine Learning. These corporations manage vast data hubs to train, develop, and commercialize AI models. However, this centralization raises a critical question: Should such an influential technological breakthrough be dominated by the wealthiest players in the industry?

Much like how Satoshi Nakamoto responded to centralized financial systems after the 2008 crisis by creating Bitcoin, there’s a growing need for AI solutions that are not monopolized by these powerful entities. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, called AI "the most important technological advancement in decades" in a 2023 blog post, highlighting the significance of ensuring that such innovation isn’t stifled by a few mega-corporations.

The Flaws of Centralized AI

AI is poised to become a daily tool for nearly everyone, from performing routine tasks to more specialized roles. The advent of artificial general intelligence (AGI) could enable the creation of “AI agents” that function as virtual assistants—managing calendars, automating payments, curating diet plans, or even generating custom playlists. For example, you might simply ask, “AI agent X, create an R&B playlist featuring Beyoncé and Ne-Yo.”

While such data might seem trivial, it is often deeply personal, raising concerns about entrusting it to Big Tech, which has a history of leveraging personal information for profit. Even more disconcerting is the use of AI in roles like therapy and coaching, where people might divulge intimate thoughts, desires, and insecurities. Can we really trust major corporations with such sensitive data? This concern is already manifesting with the rise of tools like ChatGPT, which more people are turning to for advice on their most personal questions.

This issue highlights the core problem with today’s AI systems: centralization, data monopolization, and the ensuing privacy risks. In response, developers worldwide are working on decentralized solutions that allow AI innovation without the overreach of tech giants.

Blockchain technology, renowned for its decentralized and privacy-focused structure, is now being harnessed to democratize AI development, offering an alternative to the current centralized framework.

A Shift Toward Decentralized AI Services

Blockchain has already been instrumental in decentralizing the financial sector and has had widespread applications across industries like supply chain management and healthcare. Now, this technology is being applied to AI, fostering greater transparency and security through its immutable ledgers.

The convergence of AI and blockchain could be the catalyst for a truly open and decentralized AI ecosystem. The key aim of decentralized AI is to make AI resources—including data, models, and computational power—accessible to everyone. This is crucial in breaking down the oligopolistic control currently held by a select few entities, largely due to the high computational demands and costs of training AI models.

One example is NeurochainAI, which is building a Decentralized AI Infrastructure as a Service (DeAIAS). NeurochainAI seeks to dismantle centralization by promoting collaboration among AI stakeholders, as stated on its website.

The benefits of decentralized AI for both developers and end-users are manifold:

Decentralization: Unlike centralized models, a decentralized AI ecosystem enables users to collectively share resources like computational power, data storage, and algorithm processing, significantly reducing costs.

Ready-to-Use Infrastructure: NeurochainAI provides developers with a cost-efficient platform for building AI applications, speeding up development and driving innovation across the ecosystem.

Incentives: Decentralized platforms reward contributors, such as with $NCN tokens on NeurochainAI, encouraging a cooperative environment where all participants can influence AI’s future.

Data Privacy: Blockchain empowers users to control their data, deciding what to share for AI training while maintaining privacy.

Community Participation: Decentralized AI allows for active involvement from community members in processes like data curation, algorithm processing, and model validation, resulting in more diverse and robust AI models.

The Future of Decentralized AI

The growing computational demands of AI have made it difficult for smaller players to develop their own models. While centralized cloud solutions have worked for previous challenges, AI requires a different approach. Decentralized networks can tap into unused global computing resources, offering a scalable, cost-effective alternative to traditional server-based models. This approach not only enhances scalability but also fosters community-driven AI training, allowing decentralized applications to learn from and share information with one another.

Though still in its early stages, decentralized AI platforms like NeurochainAI could challenge Big Tech’s dominance, addressing issues like centralization, computational complexity, and data privacy for users.

Source - https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/news/blockchain-could-solve-the-monopolised-ai-ecosystem/