Decentralized AI?

I've been considering an intriguing possibility recently and would like to discuss it with you all: the concept of running sophisticated Language Learning Models (LLMs) like OpenAI's GPT-4 on the Ethereum blockchain instead of a centralized computing system.

Centralized control of AI systems has always been a point of contention. While it allows for robust development and control, it also limits access and democratization. It consolidates power in the hands of a few, often leading to concerns about fairness, accessibility, and potential misuse.

However, what if we could decentralize AI through blockchain technology, specifically Ethereum? The theory is fascinating, if complex. Ethereum's smart contract functionality could potentially be utilized to handle the input/output transactions that an LLM would require. The decentralized nature of Ethereum means the AI could be accessed by anyone, anywhere, anytime, allowing for true democratization.

Here are some key points to consider:

1. Computational Power: This is perhaps the biggest hurdle. Training and running these models requires immense computational power. We'd have to consider a way to distribute this workload across the network, akin to how mining works, but on a much larger scale.
2. Scalability: Ethereum's current transaction speed might be insufficient for real-time applications of an LLM. Potential solutions like Ethereum 2.0 or Layer 2 solutions might mitigate this issue.
3. Cost: Gas fees for running such a complex application could be prohibitive, especially considering the current cost of transactions on the Ethereum network.
4. Privacy and Security: While the blockchain is inherently secure, the interactions with the AI would be publicly available, which might raise privacy concerns.
5. Control and Governance: The decentralization would indeed democratize access, but it could also make it harder to implement necessary updates, control misuse, or moderate outputs.

The potential for such a system is immense. It could allow for a truly open-source AI, where the community could potentially vote on updates, improvements, or changes to the model. This would take the control of AI out of the hands of a few and distribute it among the many, fostering a level of transparency and public involvement unseen in current AI governance models.

This theory is in its infancy and there's a lot to unpack here. I'd love to hear your thoughts, criticisms, and suggestions!

Let's start a conversation.

TL;DR: What if we could run sophisticated LLMs like GPT-4 on the Ethereum network instead of centralized servers? This could potentially democratize AI, but there are significant hurdles to consider.