Do you remember those creative writing exercises in middle school? You know, the ones where you were asked to describe your favorite cookie?
Your teacher likely instructed you to write as if explaining it to an alien—someone who had never encountered a cookie before. This meant engaging all the senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. At the time, you may not have realized how challenging it is to convey a clear image of something through words alone.
The Art of Description: Meet Matheus Pagani
Let’s put this into practice by describing Matheus Pagani, founder and CEO of Venture Miner. Matheus is a man with light caramel skin and dark brown hair. His hair is cut short, revealing its natural curliness. He sports a thick, dark brown beard that connects seamlessly to a mustache. Behind thin wire glasses, his dark brown eyes exude a sense of confidence, accentuated by a bottom lip that protrudes slightly beyond his top lip—giving him an air of assurance without arrogance.
Can you picture him yet? How accurate is your mental image?
Oh, and did I mention he’s Brazilian?
Now, let’s see how Matheus Pagani actually looks.
Is this what you envisioned based on my description? If you conjured up an image of him wearing bright colors and a feathered headdress, you might want to reassess your biases. Interestingly, this was the image generated by an AI when prompted with “some Brazilians having fun.” Pagani showcased this and other examples of AI-generated content during the recent AI2Web3 Bootcamp in New York City.
Bridging AI and Web3: The AI2Web3 Bootcamp
The bootcamp, organized by Pagani and Build City, gathered 59 participants from various backgrounds to explore how two of the most talked-about and often misunderstood technologies—AI and Web3—can be integrated to develop impactful products and services. Pagani utilized a version of the middle-school writing prompt to illustrate how AI has evolved significantly over the years. Initially, AI was primarily trained on text data, which, as demonstrated by the exercise, has its limitations. However, by combining text with visual data, we can achieve a more comprehensive understanding.
The bootcamp’s objective was to get hands-on with both AI and blockchain technology, allowing participants to grasp their fundamental components. According to Pagani, these skills will soon be essential for a diverse array of professionals—engineers, tech users, journalists, artists, and even doctors.
“We aim to bring together brilliant minds from various backgrounds to explore AI and Web3. By merging different perspectives, we can uncover innovative use cases that wouldn’t emerge from a specialized approach alone,” Pagani stated. “Today, tools exist that enable non-technical enthusiasts to construct functional applications using straightforward language. The key lies in connecting passionate individuals eager to solve problems with the right education. When this synergy occurs, it’s like lighting a match and watching a fire ignite.”
Innovative Possibilities: Building Without Boundaries
The intersection of AI and Web3 is particularly exciting because it allows for rapid development without requiring extensive technical experience. AI can generate entire codebases with just the right prompts, and the crypto industry is rapidly creating tools that simplify development in this space.
For example, Coinbase, a sponsor of the bootcamp, launched AgentKit in November. This framework empowers developers to create AI agents equipped with their own crypto wallets, enabling autonomous interactions with blockchain networks. Such agents could be designed to monitor markets and execute trades automatically based on established rules.
“Imagine a future where AI agents own and operate their own taxis, receiving payments in crypto and using that revenue for repairs,” suggested Lincoln Murr, an associate product manager at Coinbase, during the event.
Coinbase is currently running a grants program for projects utilizing AgentKit. “What you create doesn’t have to be practical; we’re inclined towards innovative concepts,” Murr noted, encouraging participants to think outside the box.
Additionally, Ora Network offers an intriguing model for developers looking to create AI-powered Web3 applications. It allows developers to leverage existing large language models, such as Meta’s Llama3 and Stable Diffusion, while also enabling them to develop their own models and conduct initial model offerings (IMOs) to crowdsource further development.
“The AI landscape is currently competitive, but our model allows for the crowdfunding of AI development. This way, people can have a stake in the models, which is crucial if we anticipate these technologies will shape our society in the future,” explained Alec James, partnerships and growth lead at Ora.
Real Innovations: Teams Present Their Creations
On the final day of the bootcamp, nine teams showcased working prototypes that integrated Web3 and AI. Their projects ranged from AI assistants designed to recommend gifts, facilitate deliveries, or diversify financial portfolios, to applications that help crypto enthusiasts create viral memecoins.
Jackie Joya, a participant who traveled from San Francisco, expressed enthusiasm for the bootcamp, stating it inspired her as a novice builder. Despite her background in animal science, she was amazed at how much she could create with the available tools.
Participants from various skill levels echoed similar sentiments. Choudhury Imtiaz, a market researcher from Bangladesh, had never heard of Web3 before attending the bootcamp but successfully pitched a team project. Meanwhile, Isayah Culbertson, an engineer experienced in both crypto and AI projects, learned how to combine both fields, believing this blend holds the potential to effect positive change in the world.
“I see this combination accelerating research and development across multiple domains while promoting a more equitable distribution of wealth generated by that innovation,” he concluded.
