In a demonstration, the Internet Computer protocol has debuted an AI capable of running on blockchain technology. This modernism, utilizing the third-generation blockchain known as the Internet Computer (ICP), marks a key advancement in integrating artificial intelligence into the decentralized web.
The initiative revealed on the DFINITY Foundation’s testnet hints at enhancing the capabilities of web3 and the multi-chain universe with AI’s power. The demo precedes the release of the code, which is expected to become widely available once the Network Nervous System (NNS) increases the per-transaction instruction limit.
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Altering blockchain with AI
Integrating AI into the blockchain via smart contracts introduces a paradigm shift in technology. Currently, the AI inference engine utilized in the Internet Computer protocol is in its initial stages and is yet to be optimized. However, future demonstrations are poised to showcase improved efficiency, where AI operations will require less computational resources, known as gas or cycles in blockchain parlance.
A world first: a demonstration of AI running *on* blockchain as a smart contract 🧠⚡️
The Internet Computer is used – the world's first 3rd gen. blockchain #ICP. AI will become the beating heart of our web3, multi-chain world, and this is only my first demo.
Code will follow… pic.twitter.com/3utmLDeC34
— dom.icp ∞ (@dominic_w) March 21, 2024
The proposition to enable smart contracts to access Single Instruction, Multiple Data (SIMD) instructions stands as a testament to the efforts to enhance speed and efficiency dramatically. Another significant advancement on the horizon is the transition from a 32-bit to a 64-bit environment.
This change will allow smart contracts hosted on the Internet Computer to utilize more than 4GB of main memory, facilitating the operation of more complex models with increased parameters and power. The move to a 64-bit environment underscores the Internet Computer’s attention to pushing the boundaries of what is possible with blockchain technology.
Building a future with autonomous smart contracts
The vision for the future, as outlined by the Internet Computer protocol, is both ambitious and transformative. The protocol aims to make smart contracts not only more powerful through hardware optimization and the incorporation of GPUs in node machines but also more autonomous.
“Secondly, we plan to propose a new public node machine specification, which node providers can build to, for use in subnets specialized for hosting AI smart contracts…”
The prospect of having smart contracts that can converse, coordinate organizations, audit other smart contracts, and perform KYC autonomously is compelling. These capabilities hint at a future where blockchain technology is not only secure and unstoppable but also intelligent and autonomous.
“…you will be able to have a chat with a smart contract. A smart contract will be able to coordinate your organization…ICP smart contracts will be able to audit Ethereum smart contracts…”
This initiative also includes plans for SDK enhancements and joint efforts to accelerate the development of crypto AI applications. The ultimate goal is to make AI models tradable as NFTs and ensure that AI smart contracts are tamperproof, unstoppable, and, if desired, under the exclusive control of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs).
A new era of secure and intelligent blockchain
As the Internet Computer prepares to integrate powerful LLMs (large language models) into its blockchain, the implications for security, AI, and the broader blockchain ecosystem are profound. Blending secure, third-generation blockchain technology with unstoppable AI will create a new paradigm where security and intelligence are inseparable.
The concept of chain key technology enabling trustless multi-chain capabilities further exemplifies the potential for a unified blockchain ecosystem empowered by AI. This technological leap prompts a pivotal question: how will the convergence of AI and blockchain reshape the digital landscape? As smart contracts become capable of performing increasingly complex and autonomous tasks, the role of blockchain in our digital lives is set to undergo a dramatic transformation.
