Filecoin and the Future of AI: Trends From FF’s Quarterly Update

To celebrate four years since Filecoin Mainnet launch, Filecoin Foundation is launching quarterly deep dives designed to hone in on different trends across our ecosystem. Our first quarterly update explores how the Filecoin network enables more decentralized, open, and transparent AI models and highlights key developments and milestones from the Filecoin ecosystem over the past quarter. 

Here are three insights from this first edition: 

Web3 Empowers AI through Decentralization and Innovation 

Twenty years ago, Web2 ushered in greater interactivity and collaboration on the internet. But it also gave rise to a few dominant players who centralized control over networks and information online. Today, AI is at risk of following a similar path, leaving builders and consumers with little visibility into how models function. By leveraging decentralized infrastructure, developers and organizations can contribute to AI systems without concentrating power in the hands of a few players. 

Filecoin is Key Infrastructure for Decentralized AI

Filecoin offers more benefits for AI networks than storage alone, including: 

• Immutability and Proof of Storage: A critical advantage of Filecoin’s crypto-powered storage network is its built-in immutability, which provides a tamper-proof record of data provenance and usage — ensuring records, datasets, and computations stored on the Filecoin network maintain a transparent history.

• Transparency, Provenance, and Authentication: An open and robust record of AI data provenance and lineage, and assurance that data has not been tampered with, combats bias and promotes audibility and trust.

• Resilience: Decentralized storage technologies such as Filecoin rely on a wide network of storage providers around the globe to store multiple copies of data.

• Customization and Flexibility: Organizations have control over how and where their data is stored, which can be tailored to meet specific compliance and performance needs. 

Prominent AI Organizations Are Leveraging Filecoin

FF recently announced collaborations with SingularityNET, Theoriq, Bagel, Nuklai, and Aethir, each highlighting the versatility of the Filecoin network as decentralized AI infrastructure. The Filecoin network provides the foundational layer that enables AI applications to scale efficiently, securely, and transparently. 

Network News 

Filecoin Mainnet Marks Four Years! On October 15, we marked the four-year anniversary of Filecoin mainnet launch. Since 2020, Filecoin has become the world’s largest decentralized storage network. Read more about the past year's highlights and check out what's in store for the year ahead on the Filecoin Foundation blog. And check out our birthday gift to the community –– an animated corgi sticker pack featuring our mascot, Biscuit.

The Web isn’t Forever: New Research Findings from “Not Your Parents' Web” Project. On October 10, we released the findings from the "Not Your Parents' Web" project –– an extensive study that explores the lifespan of millions of web pages across the last 26 years. The collaborative project from the Internet Archive, Old Dominion University’s Web Science & Digital Libraries Research Group, and Filecoin Foundation, analyzed data from the Wayback Machine to reveal key insights into the lifespan of URLs and the ephemeral nature of the web. Read more. 

Accountable AI with Jonathan Dotan. Jonathan Dotan, CEO of EQTY Lab, joined the DWeb Decoded podcast to share how Web3 can be used to ensure ethical and transparent AI. Drawing on his experience leading Starling Lab at Stanford University, Dotan discussed ClimateGPT, an AI model developed by EQTY Lab to study the impacts of climate change.

Build With Us

Tracks Announced for ​FIL Dev Summit 5, November 6-8 in Bangkok. Register now for FIL Dev Summit –– a gathering of developers, builders, storage providers, and community members working together to push Filecoin forward. The full schedule is now available online. Highlights include: 

• Charting the Filecoin Roadmap: Progress, Challenges, and What's Next: We’ll reflect on Filecoin’s current opportunities and challenges and the path we need to chart as a community. 

• Product Market Fit (PMF) Strategies — Expanding the Filecoin Economy: Dive into Filecoin’s value proposition and how it can align with market needs. 

• Storage Primitives, Data Applications, L2s, & Service Interop: Explore the foundation of storage services essential for building decentralized and verifiable data applications on the Filecoin network. 

• Chain Tooling & Infra: Dive into the technical world of chain tooling and infrastructure to enhance the Filecoin network. 

Help Shape the Future of the Web at FIL Bangkok. Experience the convergence of DePIN and AI as leading Filecoin ecosystem projects showcase their latest breakthroughs, on November 11 at the FIL Bangkok Main Stage. In partnership with CoinDesk Studios, this main stage moment will spotlight the growing number of cutting-edge L2 solutions built on Filecoin, crucial network upgrades, and the exciting trajectory of the Filecoin network.

Ecosystem Spotlight 

DeStor

DeStor is a leader in decentralized storage solutions, leveraging blockchain technology to provide secure, scalable, and verifiable storage services. Focused on integrating Web3 technologies with enterprise applications, DeStor connects data owners with Filecoin storage providers through a cutting-edge marketplace. Emphasizing integrity, clarity, and expertise, DeStor is at the forefront of transforming data storage for the modern age.

Check out the State of DeStor 2024 report, which surveys IT decision-makers on decentralized data storage and explores its potential as a solution to the exponential growth of data and emerging data security challenges.

  Governance

Announcing GovHub. GovHub is your gateway to participating in the governance of the Filecoin network. It currently hosts PowerVote, an onchain voting tool for the Filecoin community, and Fil Poll, an off-chain polling tool for gathering opinions on early ideas and community proposals. 

Insights into Filecoin Governance with Kaitlin Beegle. In a special edition of DWeb Decoded, Kaitlin Beegle, head of protocol governance at Filecoin Foundation, discusses the evolving landscape of blockchain governance.