Vitalik Buterin Calls for Ethereum-Led Alternative to the 'Race for AGI'
Vitalik Buterin advocates for a new approach to artificial intelligence that rejects the rapid, competitive “race to AGI.” He urges development focused on decentralization, verification, and privacy—core aspects of Ethereum—as protective mechanisms in the AI era. Buterin argues that the prevailing pursuit of AGI oversimplifies the problem and neglects vital questions about direction and values. He recommends integrating crypto’s principles, including trustless interaction, strong privacy, and on-chain accountability, into AI systems. His vision includes using Ethereum as an economic and coordination layer for AI-to-AI interactions, local LLM tools for privacy, zero-knowledge payments, and robust on-chain dispute resolution. Buterin outlines a four-part design framework spanning infrastructure and impact, supporting private, verifiable, and economically coordinated AI activity. This roadmap contrasts with major AI companies’ focus on ever-larger models and acceleration, emphasizing instead systems that empower humans, enhance safety, and coordinate decentralized agent economies. Core requirements include programmable deposits, usage-based payments, reputation, and stake-weighted governance.
