A groundbreaking initiative has been introduced today by the non-profit organization Dfinity Foundation, with the aim of advancing artificial intelligence (AI) applications in the realm of blockchain technology and smart contracts. The newly launched grant program, worth an impressive $5 million, is set to fund the development of decentralized artificial intelligence, affectionately dubbed “DeAI.”
The grant program will provide financial support to talented individuals and teams seeking to explore the potential of merging AI and blockchain. Grants will be awarded in the form of Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) tokens, with four different tiers available: $5,000, $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000. The highest tier, reserved for larger teams or developers who have already made substantial progress under a smaller grant, reflects the foundation’s commitment to encouraging continuous innovation in this field.
Dominic Williams, the founder and chief scientist of Dfinity Foundation, expressed his enthusiasm for the grant program in an interview with Decrypt. “We’re looking for serious people who can make use of Internet Computer’s AI compute units,” Williams stated. “We’re extra keen on that application.”
The Internet Computer blockchain, the innovative infrastructure at the heart of this project, is designed to operate as an autonomous cloud. It offers a decentralized environment that allows AI models to function entirely on the blockchain, without relying on centralized cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services. This groundbreaking approach not only enhances the security and privacy of AI applications but also opens up a wealth of possibilities for developing decentralized AI systems.
Williams highlighted the remarkable projects already utilizing AI on the Internet Computer blockchain. One such project is Dmail, which leverages decentralized email technology, and another is Itoka, an AI-powered platform for generating music. These successful ventures showcase the potential of combining AI and blockchain technologies, and the grant program aims to foster further groundbreaking innovations in this domain.
The Dfinity Foundation’s commitment to advancing the integration of AI and blockchain is set to spur a new wave of development and research. By supporting talented individuals and teams through the grant program, Dfinity Foundation is empowering the exploration of decentralized AI, paving the way for exciting advancements that could revolutionize industries across the globe.
Interested applicants are encouraged to apply for the grant program, bringing their innovative ideas and expertise to the forefront of the burgeoning field of DeAI. With the support of Dfinity Foundation and the financial resources provided through the grant program, the possibilities for AI on the blockchain are poised to expand exponentially.