Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a key element in decentralized networks, and its future may depend on many rather than a select few.
The Rise of AI and Its Barriers
Currently, the AI ecosystem is dominated by a few major players like Alphabet, Meta, and Amazon. These companies are investing billions to maintain their leadership. Franklin Templeton warns that these investments create barriers resulting in monopolistic pricing, lack of transparency, and biased outputs. However, decentralized AI models provide more opportunities for developers and innovators, opening the field to a broader audience.
OpenAI's Monopoly or a New Era?
Since launching ChatGPT, OpenAI has attracted 200 million weekly active users by November 2024. Although OpenAI began as a nonprofit promising open research, it shifted in 2019 to a 'capped-profit' model, surprising many supporters. This shift raises questions about accessibility and control over AI's future. Franklin Templeton questions the justification for closed models where open alternatives like Meta's LLaMa are available.
Blockchain as a Tool Against Big Tech Monopoly
Franklin Templeton notes that blockchain technology can decentralize control over AI, now centered with OpenAI, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon. Blockchain can add an economic layer to open AI code, allowing developers to compete globally on an equal footing. It can transform how value is created, distributed, and governed, leading to a more innovative and equitable community-driven economy.
Questions about the future of AI and its role in decentralized networks are becoming increasingly relevant. The decisions made now may fundamentally alter the balance of power in this rapidly evolving field.
