Preface: As part of my well-earned millennial mid-life crisis, I got into biodynamic farming and food fermentation. This journey took me from working on permaculture projects in the Azores, learning about volcanic soil, to volunteering in alchemists-run labs in Brandenburg making fire ciders and sauerkraut. It is also probably why I’ve been thinking a lot about Blockchain and AI.
The convergence of blockchain and AI is what organic practices were to industrial farming practices. However, blockchain doesn’t just stop at decentralizing the farming process; It revolutionizes the very soil and tools used to cultivate AI.
The dream of an AI blockchain-powered farm is one where every tool is designed for optimal energy efficiency, every seed is traceable, and every yield contributes back to the health of the digital ecosystem. It’s about cultivating AI in a way that’s not just technologically advanced but also environmentally conscious and sustainable for future generations. (Please refer to this great source for a fantastic deep dive into all the technical ways AI can benefit from blockchain).
Decentralized Cultivation: just as organic farming emphasizes local, community-driven cultivation, blockchain brings decentralization to the AI landscape. It breaks down the large, industrial-scale farms — monopolized by tech giants — into smaller, community-managed plots. This approach ensures a diverse array of developers, from individual enthusiasts to small tech firms, can contribute to and benefit from AI’s growth.
Resource Efficiency: In traditional farming, large-scale operations can deplete the soil, requiring heavy use of resources. Similarly, conventional AI models often strain computational resources. Blockchain introduces methods akin to crop rotation and soil conservation in organic farming, efficiently managing computational tasks across a decentralized network to keep the digital ‘soil’ fertile and productive.
Transparent, Traceable Practices: Organic farming’s value lies in its transparency, allowing consumers to trace produce from farm to table. Blockchain brings a similar level of transparency to AI. Each data input, model adjustment, and output in a blockchain-backed AI system can be tracked and verified (ZK), ensuring the integrity of AI systems just as with organic produce.
Economic Inclusivity: Blockchain democratizes the economic landscape of AI. In the organic farming world, small-scale farmers find new markets and fair prices for their produce. Similarly, blockchain enables smaller players in AI to find their footing. By facilitating fair compensation for data and computational contributions, it supports a more inclusive AI market.
Sustainable Growth: Ultimately, the integration of blockchain in AI nurtures a more sustainable, equitable growth path — much like how organic practices promise a healthier, more sustainable future in agriculture. It’s about planting seeds for an AI that grows efficiently and robustly, enriching the digital ecosystem for generations.
This is how I idealize the benefits of combining two of the planet’s buzziest technologies. It’s easy to get carried away with win-win scenarios and the democratization of technology. Treating foundation models as a common good rather than pure intellectual property will require significant mindset and economic shifts. But as AI laws are still being written, maybe it’s okay to indulge in hopeful ideals?
🤖Usual AI disclaimers apply. Who even publishes anything nowadays without running it through ChatGPT first?