Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, is advising caution to developers exploring the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with blockchain technology. In a blog post on January 30, Buterin outlined his concerns regarding the combination of AI and blockchain, emphasizing the need for careful consideration, particularly when deploying novel applications in high-value and high-risk contexts. Buterin highlighted potential risks, such as vulnerabilities in AI oracles used in applications like prediction markets or stablecoins, where substantial financial losses could occur if the oracle is compromised. He suggested that AI’s highest viability is in micro-scale participation in mechanisms like prediction markets, where human involvement is impractical.
While Buterin acknowledged the potential use of AI in crypto wallet interfaces to enhance user understanding and safety, he expressed caution about relying on pure AI interfaces due to increased error risks. The co-founder also warned against using AI to enforce the rules or governance of cryptosystems, citing the vulnerability of open-source AI models to adversarial attacks.
Buterin discussed the challenges of creating a decentralized AI using crypto and blockchain, particularly applications attempting to establish a “singleton” – a single decentralized trusted AI that other applications rely on. Despite the promise of functionality and improved AI safety, he noted potential failure points in the underlying assumptions of such applications. Overall, Buterin advocated for careful consideration and risk assessment when integrating AI with blockchain technology.