diff --git a/public/content/ai-agents/index.md b/public/content/ai-agents/index.md index 506b10723b3..d1ea415adb4 100644 --- a/public/content/ai-agents/index.md +++ b/public/content/ai-agents/index.md @@ -6,12 +6,12 @@ lang: en template: use-cases emoji: ":robot:" sidebarDepth: 2 -image: /images/ai-agents/hero-image.png +image: /images/ai-agents/hero-image.png alt: People gathered at terminal table summaryPoint1: AI that interacts with blockchain and trades independently summaryPoint2: Controls onchain wallets and funds -summaryPoint3: Hires humans or other agents for work -buttons: +summaryPoint3: Hires humans or other agents for work +buttons: - content: What are AI agents? toId: what-are-ai-agents - content: Explore agents @@ -45,6 +45,50 @@ These factors transform AI agents from simple bots into dynamic, self-improving +## Verifiable AI {#verifiable-ai} + +AI agents running offchain often behave like "black boxes"—their reasoning, inputs, and outputs can’t be independently verified. Ethereum changes that. By anchoring agent behavior onchain, developers can build agents that are _trustless_, _transparent_, and _economically autonomous_. The actions of such agents can be audited, constrained, and proven. + +### Verifiable inference {#verifiable-inference} + +AI inference traditionally happens offchain, where execution is cheap but model execution is opaque. On Ethereum, developers can pair agents with verifiable computation using several techniques: + +- [**zkML (zero-knowledge machine learning)**](https://opengradient.medium.com/a-gentle-introduction-to-zkml-8049a0e10a04) lets agents prove that a model was executed correctly without revealing the model or inputs +- [**TEE (trusted execution environment) attestations**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_execution_environment) allow hardware-backed proofs that an agent ran a specific model or code path +- **Onchain immutability** ensures these proofs and attestations can be referenced, replayed, and trusted by any contract or agent + +## Payments, and commerce with x402 {#x402} + +The [x402 protocol](https://www.x402.org/), deployed on Ethereum and L2s, gives agents a native way to pay for resources and interact economically without human intervention. Agents can: + +- Pay for compute, data, and API calls using stablecoins +- Request or verify attestations from other agents or services +- Participate in agent-to-agent commerce, buying and selling compute, data, or model outputs + +x402 turns Ethereum into a programmable economic layer for autonomous agents, enabling pay-per-use interactions instead of accounts, subscriptions, or centralized billing. + +### Agentic finance security {#agentic-finance-security} + +Autonomous agents need guardrails. Ethereum provides them at the wallet and contract level: + +- [Smart accounts (EIP-4337)](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-4337) let developers enforce spending limits, whitelists, session keys, and granular permissions +- Programmed constraints in smart contracts can restrict what an agent is allowed to do +- Inference-based limits (e.g., requiring a zkML proof before executing a high-risk action) add another layer of safety + +These controls enable the deployment of autonomous agents that are not unbounded. + +### Onchain registries: ERC-8004 {#erc-8004} + +[ERC-8004](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-8004) is an emerging standard (currently in peer review) that proposes onchain registries for agent identity, capabilities, and attestations. + +If adopted, it could provide: + +- A shared, trustless directory of agents +- Standardized attestation formats +- A foundation for "trustless agent infrastructure" directly on the Ethereum mainnet + +This would make it easier for agents to discover, verify, and transact with each other in a fully decentralized environment. + ## AI agents on Ethereum {#ai-agents-on-ethereum} We're beginning to explore the full potential of AI agents, and projects are already leveraging the synergy between AI and blockchain—particularly in transparency and monetization. @@ -84,11 +128,11 @@ The distinction between AI agents and AI bots can sometimes be confusing, as bot - AI bots are like automated assistants — They follow specific, pre-programmed instructions to perform routine tasks. - AI agents are more like intelligent companions — They learn from experience, adapt to new information, and make decisions on their own. -| | AI agents | AI bots | -| ------------------------- | ------------------------- | ------------------------- | -| **Interactions** | Complex, adaptable, autonomous | Simple, pre-defined scope, hardcoded | -| **Learning** | Learns continuously, can experiment and adapt to new data in real-time | Operates on pre-trained data or fixed rules | -| **Task completion** | Aims to achieve broader objectives | Focuses on specific tasks only | +| | AI agents | AI bots | +| ------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | +| **Interactions** | Complex, adaptable, autonomous | Simple, pre-defined scope, hardcoded | +| **Learning** | Learns continuously, can experiment and adapt to new data in real-time | Operates on pre-trained data or fixed rules | +| **Task completion** | Aims to achieve broader objectives | Focuses on specific tasks only | ## Dive deeper {#dive-deeper} @@ -96,4 +140,4 @@ The distinction between AI agents and AI bots can sometimes be confusing, as bot ## You can build your own AI agent {#you-can-build-your-own-ai-agent} - \ No newline at end of file +