ZDNet Korea 2024-05-09
[24th Anniversary Special: The Era of GenAI] ⑭ - Conclusion: Verifiable Data Reliability
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is engulfing the world, shaking up not only everyday life but also advanced business sectors. Notably, generative AIs, including ChatGPT, are changing the basic grammar of various industries and becoming a cornerstone of new innovation. On the other hand, despite recognizing the adoption of AI as an opportunity to enhance competitiveness, the reality is that companies hesitate due to the uncertainties and risks involved.
In celebration of its 24th anniversary, ZDNet Korea, in collaboration with Sejong Law Firm's AI Center, has prepared a special feature titled "The Era of GenAI" to diagnose these changes.
This series examines effective AI governance that businesses can adopt in response to AI regulations. Additionally, it provides an in-depth analysis of the changes AI is bringing across eleven sectors including software, telecommunications, internet, health bio, distribution, electronics, finance, automotive, and blockchain. It also aims to contribute to the creation of a healthy AI ecosystem by presenting multiple viewpoints on ethical and social issues that should be discussed alongside the advancement of AI technologies. [Editor's note]
Until a few years ago, artificial intelligence (AI) was a 'technology of imagination' seen only in movies and creative works. However, it has subtly transformed into a technology that directly impacts our lives.
Of course, there are many differences. Previously, AI was depicted in robots as a crude creation mimicking human emotions. Now, AI has descended into reality as a 'service' that makes life more convenient.
Reflecting this reality, global companies are eagerly diving into the field of AI. Companies that have established a foothold in the AI sector early on are seeing their stock prices soar, emerging as the protagonists of the future. While it's uncertain how long this atmosphere will last, it's hard to deny that AI is currently the hottest keyword.
However, for the AI sector to continue growing, there are challenges that need to be addressed. These include biased AI training due to long-tail effects, incorrect conclusions drawn from such biases, issues with the transparency and authenticity of AI data, and high barriers to entry needed to build generative AI models.
(image=ImageToday)
Blockchain technology is being identified as a solution to address fundamental issues with AI. The concept of blockchain, which stores generated information in individually distributed blocks linked in a chain, is characterized by its inability to delete or modify stored data, and the transparency of data movement history accessible to everyone.
There are already real-world examples where these characteristics of blockchain are being leveraged to accelerate AI research. Blockchain provides the resources needed for AI training and creates a cyclical structure where those who provide resources receive compensation utilizing the blockchain ecosystem.
Oh Hyun-ok, the president of the Zero-Knowledge Proof Research Society, stated, "While AI is applied in the field of blockchain, there are also cases where blockchain is applied to the advancement of AI. For example, AI development requires a lot of resources, but blockchain can be used to allow anyone to provide computational power or data."
Continuing, "Research is also being conducted on services that reward those contributing to AI development with tokens established on the blockchain network. I am aware that there are also instances in Korea where blockchain technology has been used to configure cloud servers for AI training."
A representative from Dispread Research Team mentioned, "There are opinions suggesting that collecting and refining long-tail data can create bottlenecks in AI development. Utilizing blockchain technology could help solve the long-tail problem by securing the necessary data and establishing an incentive system that provides compensation for this data."
The blockchain industry claims that the trust issues with data created through AI learning and research can also be resolved using blockchain technology. Storing the original data on the blockchain makes it impossible to alter or delete, allowing for verification of the authenticity by comparing it with the resulting outputs.
A prominent example of utilizing this concept is the virtual currency Worldcoin, launched by Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, in 2023. As AI evolves, it will produce highly advanced AIs that are indistinguishable from real humans, which could lead to identity verification issues. Worldcoin's fundamental concept involves registering iris information on the blockchain to build one's identity information and connecting this to establish a large economic community.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI (Photo=ZDNet Korea DB)
Even setting aside the issues of the economic community pursued by Worldcoin and the validity of the basic income paid in Worldcoin, it is quite fascinating that a leading figure in AI development recognizes the potential for AI to damage the authenticity of data and is using blockchain as a means to overcome this.
In fact, representatives from the blockchain industry agree that blockchain can be a decisive tool in verifying the authenticity of AI data.
Pyo Cheol-min, CEO of Chain Partners, explained, "As the era where it becomes difficult to distinguish between real and fake emerges with deepfakes created by AI, the immutable nature of blockchain offers strong value. By comparing the data recorded in each block, the authenticity of data created by AI can be verified."
He added, "The blockchain technology already developed is sufficient to verify the authenticity of AI data."
Experts from both the academic and industry sectors of blockchain anticipate that blockchain and AI will continue to rise in tandem. It's said that blockchain technology has already reached a stage where it can synergize with the AI field. The enhancement effect of blockchain on AI development is not a distant future scenario but is happening right now.
A representative from Neofin commented, "The speed of technological advancement is so fast that blockchain and AI are quickly merging. More AI developers are issuing virtual assets, and mainnet operators are using AI, increasing gradually. The synergy they will create together in the future is boundless."
Oh Hyun-ok, president of the Zero-Knowledge Proof Society, said, "There are already papers in academia about the process of verifying and enhancing data created using AI through blockchain. Blockchain and AI are complementary and evolve together."
Reported by Kim Han-jun, khj1981@zdnet.co.kr
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