As artificial intelligence races ahead, a former Ethereum core developer believes the next big breakthrough for Ethereum could lie beyond finance — in reshaping the future of AI.
Eric Connor, who left the Ethereum community in January to explore AI, shared on X that Ethereum has a “huge opportunity” to become the decentralized backbone of ethical AI. “Its biggest mainstream moment is waiting in the wings with AI,” he said.
Connor highlighted concerns regarding current AI systems’ opaque and centralized nature, including data hoarding and privacy risks. He argues that Ethereum’s principles of transparency, decentralization, and trust minimization serve as a potential solution. By utilizing smart contracts, it’s possible to clarify how AI models are developed, the sources of their data, and the decision-making processes involved. Furthermore, Ethereum’s infrastructure supports micropayments and token incentives, which may help align the interests of developers, users, and data providers in future AI ecosystems.
Despite these possibilities, Connor acknowledged the resistance from current AI powerhouses, who benefit from control and secrecy. “They profit from the black box,” he noted, emphasizing that public demand for fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI will continue to grow. “Ethereum offers an alternative path.”
Connor urged the Ethereum community to invest in research, development tools, and real-world applications that showcase how decentralized tech can power ethical, autonomous AI.
Ethereum is positioning itself as a key platform for agentic AI by providing access to verifiable on-chain data, smart contract execution, and digital asset ownership. Notable projects include Luna, an autonomous virtual influencer managing its wallet; AIXBT, an AI market analyst for cryptocurrency; and Botto, a decentralized artist creating NFTs based on community input.
Meanwhile, Ethereum’s next major upgrade, Pectra, is officially set to launch on May 7, following a successful test run on the Hoodi testnet. The decision was finalized during an Ethereum core developer call on April 3, marking the end of the upgrade’s testing phase.
If you want to read more news articles like this, visit DeFi Planet and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and CoinMarketCap Community.
“Take control of your crypto portfolio with MARKETS PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytics tools.”