The digital era is approaching a major transformation with the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Web3 technologies. At this pivotal moment, NEAR Protocol, a layer-1 blockchain that actively combines the capabilities of AI with the decentralizing power of Web3, ushering in a new era of digital interaction.

This article aims to explore the substance of Web3 and AI, delve into the innovative spirit of NEAR Protocol, and showcase how this integration symbolizes the dawn of an inclusive, decentralized AI future.

Understanding Web3: The Foundation of the Digital Revolution

Before we delve into the intricacies of the NEAR Protocol approach to AI, it’s essential to understand the Web3 concept that's characterized by decentralization, blockchain technology, and emphasis on users sovereignty over data. This new phase promises to tackle the centralized framework that dominate our current digital gests, paving the way for a more secure, transparent, and users-controlled data.

The Core Principles Of Web3

1. Decentralization: Unlike the current internet, which is controlled by centralized around major corporations, Web3 operates on a distributed network, eliminating single points of failure.

2. Transparency and Immutable: With blockchain technology, all transactions are transparent, immutable, and verifiable by anyone, fostering trust among participants.

3. User Empowerment: Web3 empowering users with unparalleled control over their data, identities, and digital assets, empowering them in ways that were previously unimaginable.

Key Pillars Of Web3

1. Blockchain: The foundation of Web3, blockchain is a distributed ledger that ensures the transparency, security, and integrity of data across a network of computers.

2. Decentralized Applications (DApps): dApps running on blockchain and operate autonomously.

3. Smart Contract: Smart contracts are pieces of code stored on a blockchain that automatically execute, verify, and enforce the terms of a contract when certain conditions are met also include complex logic and interactions between different parties automatically.

NEAR Protocol's Commitment to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Web3

NEAR Protocol was founded by Illia Polosukhin and Alex Skidanov, who have a strong background in artificial intelligence (AI) and Web3. Illia Polosukhin, a key contributor to Google's TensorFlow project, turned to blockchain after realizing that the problem of collecting and sharing data in AI could be solved with this technology. Together with Alex Skidanov, they developed NEAR Protocol into a powerful blockchain network. NEAR's founding team includes experts from Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, as well as champions of international programming competitions.

Illia Polosukhin and Alex Skidanov concluded that blockchain is a crucial infrastructure for advancing AI development. NEAR is building BOS (Blockchain Operating System) that provides a common layer for browsing and discovery of open web experiences.

Illia Polosukhin envisions several use cases for blockchain in AI:

1. Crowdsourced Data Labeling: Creating a marketplace to reward contributors for labeling high-quality data used to train AI models.

2. Governance: Manage and monitor AI in a transparent way, including creating alignment datasets through crowdsourcing and directing research funding.

3. Content Management System & On-chain Reputation: Tracks the origin of all media assets to address issues of false attribution and inappropriate content, and provides better user control through community governance.

4. Language Defined Experiences: Use AI to create user interfaces by automatically combining components and features.

5. Marketplaces: Enables easier interaction with AI models while still supporting monetization of models that are expensive to run and train.

User-Owned AI is NEAR: A Visionary Fusion of AI and Web3

NEAR Protocol aiming to democratize AI development, research, and applications based on user intent by introducing NEAR AI. NEAR Protocol promotes the concept of User-Owned AI, where users have control over their data without third-party interference, on behalf of users, and optimizing capabilities for users' benefits. NEAR Protocol envisions making edge AI and Web3 mainstream, thereby reducing reliance on centralized infrastructures and democratizing access to AI technologies.

This vision is rooted in the belief that AI should be accessible to everyone, not controlled by a few large entities. By leveraging NEAR Blockchain that is easy to use and develop on with million daily active users, NEAR AI aims to provide a decentralized platform where users can own and control their AI applications and data. The project is designed to evolve through several phases:

AI Developers in NEAR AI

AI Developers focuses on teaching machines to code autonomously. This involves transforming user intents into fully functional applications, including complex decentralized applications (dApps). By simplifying the development process, AI Developer aims to make it easier for anyone to create AI-powered applications, significantly lowering the barrier to entry and enabling broader participation in the AI and blockchain ecosystems.

AI Researcher In NEAR AI

AI Researcher utilizing the capabilities of AI Developer to teach machines to perform autonomous research. This involves generating hypotheses, conducting experiments, and learning from the results. AI Researcher continuously improve performance, making it adept at solving complex problems across various domains. The AI Researcher aims to push the boundaries of AI by uncovering new insights and knowledge through reasoning, search, and formal methods.

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) in NEAR AI

The ultimate goal of NEAR AI is to develop Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) that have capabilities surpassing those of expert humans across a wide range of tasks. This AGI will be user-owned, ensuring that individuals and communities, rather than large corporations or governments, benefit from its capabilities. NEAR AI emphasizes that all AGI developments must be open-source and user-owned to democratize access to advanced technologies and transform how we interact with computing, driving productivity and innovation globally.

Website: https://near.ai

NEAR Tasks: An Articifial Intelligence (AI) Marketplace By NEAR Protocol

NEAR Tasks is a revolutionary marketplace launched on the NEAR Protocol, combining AI and blockchain to transform how AI training data is generated and validated. It aims to provide a fair, transparent, and efficient platform for taskers and businesses alike.

NEAR Tasks integrates AI and Web3 to create a seamless, self-service platform for listing and completing AI-related tasks. NEAR Tasks uses blockchain to ensure all transactions are transparent and verifiable. On-chain digital IDs enhance accountability, while $NEAR transactions enable quick global payments with minimal fees. This model promotes high-quality outcomes and addresses the prevalent issue of underpaid workers in the AI sector.

NEAR Tasks Benefits:

1. For Businesses: NEAR Tasks offers a plug-and-play solution for data labeling and AI training, reducing costs and increasing efficiency. The platform connects businesses with verified taskers who are will be rewarded in $NEAR, ensuring timely and fair payments.

2. For Taskers: The marketplace provides a transparent and reliable way to monetize skills and expertise. Taskers build their reputation through quality work, leading to more opportunities and better compensation.

Website: https://neartasks.ai

Conclusion

With AI being set as the core vertical for the NEAR Protocol, the future holds interesting possibilities. From creating an user-owned, transparent, and privacy-preserving AI ecosystem and transforming business operations to creating a hybrid human-AI work environment, NEAR is ready to lead the way in the convergence of AI technology and Web3. Alongside continuously innovating and expanding its ecosystem, NEAR is prepared to to democratize access to AI, empower users, and transform the digital economy.

Social Media:

• Website: https://near.org

• Docs: https://docs.near.org

• Blog: https://near.org/blog

• Twitter: https://x.com/NEARprotocol

• Discord: https://near.chat

• Telegram: https://t.me/cryptonear