‘In ‘93, it became clear to me AI should be decentralized’ — Ben Goertzel

Ben Goertzel, a computer scientist with a long-standing belief in decentralized AI, anticipates the arrival of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) within the next one to three years. His project, SingularityNET, a decentralized AI services marketplace, is actively pursuing this goal. SingularityNET’s development includes partnerships with Mind Network and Filecoin Foundation, a $53 million investment in a modular supercomputer, and a token merger with Ocean Protocol and Fetch.ai. In 2024, Goertzel established the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (ASI Alliance), the world’s largest open-source initiative dedicated to decentralized AGI. He positions SingularityNET and the ASI Alliance as leading the charge in decentralized AGI research and development outside of Big Tech.

Goertzel’s commitment to decentralization stems from his early recognition, as far back as the mid-1990s, of the potential for AI misuse in centralized systems. He wrote his first decentralized AI code in 1996, predating the extensive centralization of the internet by major tech companies like Google, Facebook, and Tencent. He argues that decentralization is crucial for safeguarding AGI from monopolization and ensuring its benefits are broadly shared, not concentrated in the hands of a few. This principle underpins SingularityNET, Hyperon, and the upcoming ASI Chain, a modular blockchain designed for decentralized AI. Goertzel believes a decentralized approach is essential for AGI to benefit humanity rather than serve concentrated power.

Goertzel’s early explorations into decentralized money in the 1990s, driven by anarchist leanings, were ultimately deemed impractical due to perceived limitations in transaction speed and cost. This early skepticism, however, didn’t fully anticipate the rise of Bitcoin and the subsequent development of cryptocurrencies, which, while addressing decentralization, still grapple with transaction speed and cost issues. His reflections acknowledge the unforeseen potential of cryptocurrencies in facilitating illicit activities like money laundering and the sale of illegal goods, highlighting the complexities of technological development and its potential for both beneficial and detrimental applications. Goertzel’s work has gained mainstream attention, notably through an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience.