I recently noticed that Vitalik Buterin is presenting an intriguing vision of how Ethereum will evolve in the world of artificial intelligence. The topic is deeper than just merging two technologies.

Basically, he sees that the true future of AI must achieve two critical goals: first, to enhance human freedom rather than replace people or subject them to unbreakable power structures. And second, to ensure system safety and avoid existential risks caused by uncontrolled superintelligent AI.

Based on this vision, he has identified four short-term directions for Ethereum:

First, building technical tools that support interaction without intermediaries, ensuring privacy. This includes local language models and user-side verification mechanisms.

Second, transforming Ethereum into an economic layer that coordinates AI-related interactions, including guarantee mechanisms and on-chain dispute resolution systems.

Third, developing the concept of self-verification that allows users to interact directly with Ethereum applications through local models, with the ability to create and confirm transactions independently.

Fourth, using AI to enhance human governance and collaboration through complex mechanisms like prediction markets and quadratic voting, leading to more efficient governance systems.

What’s truly interesting is that these short-term governance directions are not just ordinary technical improvements but reflect a deeper philosophy about building robust decentralized systems. Merging AI with blockchain can turn traditional cognitive and coordination limitations into a new, more efficient and inclusive reality.