The Ethereum Foundation has taken a decisive step into the artificial intelligence realm by establishing a dedicated unit known as the dAI Team. This initiative, announced by research scientist Davide Crapis, aims to position Ethereum as the preferred platform for AI agents and the emerging machine economy. By focusing on enabling AI agents to conduct payments and coordinate actions sans traditional intermediaries, the team seeks to create a more efficient and transparent AI ecosystem.
Crapis highlighted the critical mission of the dAI Team, which revolves around two important objectives. Firstly, the team aims to facilitate a decentralized AI economy built directly on Ethereum, allowing AI agents and robots to perform functions without reliance on centralized platforms. This shift is in line with Ethereum’s core principles of neutrality, verifiability, and censorship resistance, which are vital for the development of intelligent systems.
A significant aspect of the dAI Team’s work involves advancing the ERC-8004 standard. This proposed standard will serve as a framework for identity verification and reputation systems for AI agents, enabling them to interact and coordinate effectively without centralized gatekeepers. The finalized ERC-8004 standard is expected to be presented at the upcoming Devconnect conference in Buenos Aires this November, marking a crucial milestone for the team and the broader Ethereum ecosystem.
The establishment of the dAI Team is part of a larger restructuring effort by the Ethereum Foundation aimed at addressing the growing impact of emerging technologies beyond just financial applications. This initiative also aligns with the foundation’s commitment to supporting public goods and projects that enhance identity, reputation, and coordination among AI agents.
Moreover, the Foundation has also made substantial changes throughout the year, launching a “Trillion Dollar Security” initiative and actively managing its ETH treasury to address past criticisms related to ETH sales. The dAI Team will collaborate closely with both the Foundation’s Protocol group and Ecosystem Support arm to ensure that protocol enhancements meet the evolving needs of AI developers.
Hiring for the new AI-focused team has already begun, with job postings shared alongside Crapis’s announcement. The foundation aims to work swiftly and purposefully to establish connections between AI developers and the Ethereum ecosystem, ultimately bolstering the network’s position as a foundational layer for the future machine-to-machine economy.
