Source: Bankless

Author: David C

Translation: BitpushNews

Agents are making waves across the tech industry, but what sparks will crypto technology ignite?

AI Agents—artificial intelligence agents—have recently taken center stage in the tech field, not just in crypto, as companies race to invest in software that can autonomously observe, reason, and act. These systems, sometimes referred to as autonomous agents, are expected to transform human daily life—one day, they may plan our schedules, shop online for us, and even build software without direct human assistance.

The emergence of ChatGPT marked a turning point, turning advanced AI from a futuristic idea into a widely used tool, proving that these models can learn and adapt in real-time. As developers realized that AI could do more than just respond to text prompts—such as managing calendars or coding—AI Agents stepped into the spotlight.

Although still in the early stages, the potential of these systems continues to be recognized. That said, AI Agents may initially be difficult to grasp. In this article, we will clearly define them, differentiate agents from conventional "bots" or "workflows," and then outline their synergy with blockchain.

What exactly are AI Agents?

AI Agents are dynamic software systems designed to handle tasks with minimal human supervision. They use advanced AI tools to process data inputs (such as text, images, or blockchain records) to achieve specific goals. Unlike simpler bots that follow strict, rule-based automation, AI agents bring intelligence, adaptability, and autonomy to their tasks.

Agents are often confused with bots, which are merely automated tools that perform functions based on predefined parameters. For example, a bot might send alerts, place orders, or collect data when certain conditions are met, essentially operating through an "A action triggers B action" workflow. While efficient in repetitive tasks, bots operate strictly according to the rules set by their creators and lack the ability to adapt or learn.

In contrast, agents leverage advanced technologies like large language models (LLMs) to understand context, learn from interactions, and adapt to unforeseen circumstances.

This autonomy allows them to optimize their approaches in real-time to better achieve their goals, even in changing environments. By combining automation with intelligence, agents can handle complex tasks that require situational awareness and intent, providing capabilities far beyond the limitations of traditional bots.

Over time, this flexibility can enable them to act as personal assistants, financial managers, or autonomous problem solvers across various applications.

How do AI Agents fit into the crypto space?

While the hype around the AI x crypto cycle has been around for some time, AI agents have become particularly popular in our industry.

The 2024 cycle will be marked by the fusion of AI and crypto. Decentralized AI may democratize technology, while speculative tokens flood the market.

Although their initial use cases may seem simple, or akin to prompting GOAT or other "chatbots," the synergy between these technologies proves to be more fundamental. First, since many agents provide services, they also need to be paid, and they cannot use traditional financial infrastructure to receive payments. For example, opening a bank account or signing a contract typically requires meeting with a banker or notary. Since AI agents are not actually people, they lack passports or any necessary banking documents—making it difficult for them to interact with traditional finance and receive or make payments.

However, crypto solves this problem.

On the blockchain, it doesn't matter whether participants are human or software, meaning agents can hold digital assets, pay for services, or receive payments, or interact directly with smart contracts, thus overcoming the limitations imposed by traditional financial systems. Furthermore, once these contracts are deployed, anyone and anything, including AI agents, can use them. This arrangement contrasts with traditional finance, where each new entity must apply for and obtain approval, while on the blockchain, users—whether human or AI—can access all smart contracts running on the blockchain.

Additionally, since many blockchains open up open-source protocols, AI agents can potentially have a broader toolkit to integrate, providing them with a wider toolbox to accomplish tasks on-chain (and even off-chain), thereby enhancing their autonomy and expanding their potential impact.

Beyond enabling the economic tracks necessary for agents, blockchain plays a key role in addressing the "black box" AI problem. As general artificial intelligence (AGI) becomes a matter of when, not if, many are concerned that the current opaque state of AI could create severe imbalances and lead to unintended consequences that pose significant threats to society. However, by operating on a decentralized network, the operations of AI are transparent and difficult to monopolize, providing checks against abuse or single points of failure. Thus, crypto can serve as a safeguard against such behaviors, making the operations of AI and AI agents verifiable on-chain.

Agents are a big deal

In short, AI agents are changing the way we think about software and automation by introducing intelligence, adaptability, and independence—expanding possibilities far beyond the predefined workflows of simple bots.

While agents can operate in dynamic environments, whether involving planning, trading, or interacting with real-world applications, by leveraging blockchain, these agents can overcome the limitations imposed by traditional finance, significantly increasing their potential to provide services and achieve goals. Combined with the transparency of decentralized networks, this fusion of AI and crypto promises to usher in an era where agents can confidently navigate financial services and maintain verifiable processes on-chain. As the capabilities of AI agents and the blockchain ecosystem continue to evolve, their synergy will reshape the way we handle scaled tasks on-chain and off-chain, heralding a future marked by higher intelligence and greater achievements.

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