Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize the world by introducing new tools and technologies that will benefit individuals and communities, foster economic opportunities, and drive innovation and creativity. However, it also poses a risk of creating closed-loop systems that favor corporate interests, potentially hindering the development of an open web.
Chris Donovan, the chief operating officer of Near Foundation, which governs the Near Protocol blockchain abstraction protocol, expressed his concerns about the future of the open web. He emphasized the need for a credible and irrevocably open environment for AI development, as the absence of such an environment may prevent the realization of the open web.
Illia Polosukhin, the co-founder and CEO of Near Foundation, explained why AI poses a threat to open systems. He pointed out that most AI development is carried out by large corporations driven by the need to generate more revenue. These corporations aim to increase the time users spend on their products to boost their revenue per user. Consequently, they utilize AI to confine users within their corporate ecosystems, leading to a dystopian future.
Polosukhin drew parallels with past incidents, such as Microsoft’s anti-competitive practices, to illustrate how AI could exacerbate the issue. He highlighted the potential for AI to actively manipulate users and create a perfect storm of anti-competition. Users may become trapped within these systems, unaware that they are being influenced by AI.
Donovan also expressed concerns about the negative impact of AI on social media platforms. He explained that these platforms prioritize attention and engagement, rather than promoting good behavior or providing high-quality information. Polosukhin added that large tech platforms may seek to provide information directly, diminishing the plurality and independence of media.
Despite these risks, Polosukhin acknowledged the potential benefits of AI. He highlighted the ability of AI to empower individuals and transform non-tech-savvy users into builders. Near is working on enabling individuals to build applications from scratch, even without technical expertise. Additionally, AI assistants can assist with tasks like booking flights.
Near has its own vision of AI, called “user-owned AI,” which aims to create a secure and decentralized AI ecosystem. The company has announced partnerships in data, models, compute, and inference to support this vision. Near envisions itself as the underlying layer, providing the infrastructure for this ecosystem, while the protocol facilitates identity and payments.
In conclusion, while AI holds tremendous potential, there is a need for caution to prevent its negative consequences. The development of an open and inclusive AI environment is crucial to ensure a positive future for the open web and society at large.