Combining the transparency of decentralized networks, the fusion of artificial intelligence and encryption is expected to usher in a new era. Agents are causing waves across the entire technology sector, but what sparks will encryption technology and they ignite? This article is sourced from an article by David C, compiled, translated, and written by Bitpush.
(Foreword: Franklin D. Report: 10 Cryptographic Projects of AI Agents Worthy of Attention)
(Background Supplement: Commentary: AI Agents Supplement the Important Puzzle of the Metaverse, GameFi Tokenization Killer)
AI Agents — Artificial Intelligence Agents — have recently taken center stage in the technology field, not only in the encryption field, as companies are investing in software capable of autonomously observing, reasoning, and acting. These systems, sometimes referred to as autonomous agents, have the potential to change human daily life — one day, they may schedule our daily routines, shop online for us, and even build software without direct human assistance.
The emergence of ChatGPT marks a turning point, transforming advanced artificial intelligence from a futuristic idea into a widely used tool, proving that these models can learn and adapt in real-time. When developers realize that artificial intelligence can do more than just answer text prompts — such as handling calendar management or coding tasks — AI Agents come into the spotlight.
Although still in the early stages, the potential of these systems continues to be recognized. However, AI Agents may initially be challenging to master. In this article, we will clearly define them, differentiate agents from conventional “robots” or “workflows,” and then outline their synergy with blockchain.
What are AI Agents?
AI Agents are dynamic software systems designed to handle tasks with minimal human supervision. They use advanced artificial intelligence tools to process data inputs (such as text, images, or blockchain records) to achieve specific goals. Unlike simpler robots that follow strict, rule-based automation, AI agents bring intelligence, adaptability, and autonomy into their tasks.
Agents are often confused with robots, which are automated tools that perform functions based on predefined parameters. For example, a robot may send alerts, place orders, or collect data according to a script when certain conditions are met, essentially executing a workflow of “A action triggers B action.” While efficient in repetitive tasks, robots strictly follow rules set by their creators and lack the ability to adapt or learn.
On the other hand, agents utilize advanced technologies such as Large Language Models (LLM) to understand context, learn from interactions, and adapt to unforeseen situations.
This autonomy allows them to optimize their approach in real-time to better achieve their goals, even in constantly changing environments. By combining automation with intelligence, agents can handle complex tasks requiring situational awareness and intent, providing functionality far beyond the limitations of traditional robots.
Over time, this flexibility can enable them to act as personal assistants, financial managers, or autonomous problem solvers across various applications.
How do AI Agents integrate into the encryption field?
Although the AI x Encryption cycle has been hyped for some time, AI agents have become particularly popular in our industry.
The 2024 cycle will be marked by the fusion of artificial intelligence and encryption. Decentralized artificial intelligence may democratize technology, while speculative tokens flood the market.
While their initial use cases may appear simple or suggest GOAT or other “chatbots,” the synergy between these technologies has proven to be more fundamental. Firstly, as many agents provide services, they also need to be paid, and they cannot use traditional financial infrastructure to receive payments. For example, opening a bank account or signing contracts typically requires meeting with bankers or notaries. Since artificial intelligence agents are not actual humans, lacking passports or any necessary banking files makes it challenging for them to interact with traditional finance and receive or make payments.
However, encryption solves this problem.
On the blockchain, whether participants are human or software is not important, meaning that agents can own digital assets, pay for services, receive payments, or interact directly with smart contracts, thus overcoming the restrictions imposed by traditional financial systems. Furthermore, once these contracts are deployed, anyone and anything, including artificial intelligence agents, can use them. This arrangement contrasts with traditional finance, where every new entity must apply for and obtain approval, whereas on the blockchain, users — whether human or artificial intelligence — can access all smart contracts executed on the blockchain.
Additionally, since many blockchains operate on open-source protocols, artificial intelligence agents potentially have a wider array of tools to integrate, providing them with a broader toolbox to complete tasks on-chain (and even off-chain), enhancing their autonomy and expanding their potential impact.
Beyond enabling the economic tracks required for agents, blockchain plays a crucial role in addressing “black box” artificial intelligence issues. As General Artificial Intelligence (AGI) becomes a matter of time rather than if, many are concerned that current opaque artificial intelligence may lead to severe imbalances and unintended consequences posing significant threats to society. However, by operating on decentralized networks, the operations of artificial intelligence are transparent and resistant to monopolization, providing checks to prevent abuse or single points of failure. Therefore, encryption can serve as a safeguard against such behavior, making the operations of artificial intelligence and AI agents verifiable on-chain.
Agents are a big deal
In conclusion, AI agents, by introducing intelligence, adaptability, and independence, have changed the way we think about software and automation — expanding possibilities far beyond predefined workflows of simple robots.
While agents can operate in dynamic environments involving planning, transactions, or interacting with real-world applications, by leveraging blockchain, these agents can overcome the limitations imposed by traditional finance, greatly increasing their potential to provide services and achieve goals. The fusion of transparency of decentralized networks, artificial intelligence, and encryption is poised to usher in an era where agents can confidently navigate financial services and maintain their verifiable processes on-chain. As the functionalities of artificial intelligence agents and the blockchain ecosystem continue to evolve, their synergy will reshape how we handle scalable tasks on-chain and off-chain, ushering in a future marked by higher intelligence and greater achievements.