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BLOCKCHAIN: AI'S SILVER BULLET

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a growing discussion point around the world with some excited for it’s emergence while others sceptical about the future dangers AI poses to humanity.

But now, two ground breaking innovations, blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI), converge in a way to alleviate a crucial concern. The executives at the World Economic Forum in Davos recently suggested that the marriage of blockchain technology with AI could be the "killer use case" needed to keep AI models in check.

Blockchains are well known for being isolated systems that are advancing to the point of becoming impenetrable from the outside. If this wasn’t the case Bitcoin would not be operational for as long as it has been and would have fallen to breaches. But it continues to remain as secure as the day it launched showcasing the power of Blockchain technology and it’s ability to ensure AI systems are kept where they need to be and overseen in order not to create a Skynet situation.

AI Dangers Overview

AI models, such as ChatGPT rely heavily on the data they are trained on. However, one significant challenge is the potential to use bias and misinformation in the training data to teach AI incorrect things that could lead to disaster. This issue poses a risk of AI systems providing skewed answers and false information and commencing a human take over.

To address this concern, blockchain technology originally designed as an immutable and tamper-proof public ledger for crypto currency like bitcoin, emerges as a potential solution.

The core idea involves storing AI training data on the blockchain, providing a transparent and traceable record of the data used to train a particular model. Casper Labs a blockchain firm, has collaborated with IBM to develop a system that accomplishes precisely this. Medha Parlikar, the CTO and co-founder of Casper Labs, explained that their product involves checkpointing and storing datasets on the blockchain. This process creates a proof of how the AI model has been trained offering a new approach to address nefarious and misinformation that could potentially impact an AI’s actions.

Ability to Revert To Previous Version

One notable feature of blockchain-backed AI training data is the ability to roll back the AI in case of undesired outcomes. If an AI system begins to exhibit signs of poor behaviour or starts providing inaccurate information developers can leverage the blockchain to undo some of the learning and revert to a previous version of the AI model. This capability is particularly crucial in preventing AI hallucinations where the system generates false information.

Sheila Warren, the CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation, emphasized that a blockchain-based AI training data ledger could be the "killer use case" for the technology. The verification of AI along with the necessary checks and balances could be seamlessly integrated with blockchain technology ensuring a transparent and accountable AI ecosystem that is unable to flow into other servers and systems preventing an AI take over.

The decentralised and transparent nature of blockchain makes it an ideal guardian for AI systems. By recording and verifying each step of the AI training process as well as it’s actions on an immutable ledger this means blockchain minimises the risk of a AI take over going unnoticed. This not only enhances the accountability of AI developers but also fosters trust among end users who rely on AI generated information, services or support.

Industries are the frontlines

While blockchain has been discussed across various industries the convergence with AI is particularly promising. Sectors such as finance and healthcare which are known for their sensitivity to data accuracy can benefit significantly from blockchain backed AI systems. The integration of blockchain ensures that AI models in these industries adhere to ethical standards and deliver reliable results.

As the partnership between blockchain and AI continues to progress it opens up new possibilities for ensuring the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies. The collaboration between Casper Labs and IBM is just one example of how industry leaders are actively exploring the potential of blockchain in creating a more trustworthy and accountable AI ecosystem.

Blockchain's integration with AI training data emerges as a groundbreaking solution to the persistent challenge of fear and accountability in artificial intelligence. By leveraging the transparent and decentralised nature of blockchain developers can track, verify and roll back AI models.

This ensures that biases are mitigated and misinformation is minimised. As industries increasingly recognise the importance of ethical AI, the collaboration between blockchain and AI may very well define the future landscape of responsible and trustworthy artificial intelligence and save the human race.

Image sources provided supplemented by Canva Pro subscription. This is not financial advice and readers are advised to undertake their own research or seek professional financial services.

Posted Using InLeo Alpha