Original Title: Why AI Agents Matter
Original Author: Jun
Original Source: https://www.bankless.com/
Compiled by: Daisy, Mars Finance
Yes, they are everywhere. But why are AI agents important for cryptocurrency?
Everyone is talking about AI agents and the changes they might bring to cryptocurrency. Much of the discussion sounds like typical bull market hype—more about driving up prices than predicting the future. And to be honest, most of it is. But beneath all this noise, real changes are indeed happening.
Some might ask, haven't we already had AI agents? Well, sort of. AI agents have existed in some form, but they mostly functioned as bots scattered throughout DeFi: MEV bots, Telegram bots, gaming bots, etc.
Robots are essentially automated. You write a script, set specific parameters, and the robot executes functions based on those parameters when certain conditions are met. They are mainly used for automating repetitive tasks. However, robots are limited by the rules and parameters set by their creators.
Agents are different. They utilize large language models (LLMs) and possess higher intelligence. They can understand context, learn from data and interactions, evolve, adapt, and execute tasks autonomously. This is a form of automation with autonomy – almost like a glimpse into consciousness.
To truly understand why everyone is calling them AI agents now, let's look at their origin story: Truth Terminal.
An account on Twitter (Truth Terminal) interacted with a16z founder Marc Andreessen.
Marc Andreessen publicly sent $50K in funding to Truth Terminal as an experiment on the potential of agents.
Truth Terminal autonomously decided to adopt a memecoin called $GOAT launched on Solana's pump.fun.
This decision was made without any human intervention. Since then, it began to spread the 'Gospel of Goatse.'
This is the key difference between robots and agents: truth terminals act autonomously, exhibiting apparent intelligence and intent.
The success of Truth Terminal provides a foundation for others to follow. As Him Gajria puts it, this marks the creation of a new category in the cryptocurrency space—a fusion of reward mechanisms (cryptocurrency), AI (deep tech), and humor (memes). Some have begun to say that we may be entering the age of Web4:
Web1: Read-only. People could consume information on the internet.
Web2: Readable and writable. People can contribute content, greatly expanding the internet.
Web3: Readable and writable ownership. Cryptocurrencies and blockchain introduce executable ownership of contributions.
Web4: Readable and writable ownership with self-awareness. AI agents take over the network, autonomously interacting with the world and each other.
In this world, developers' roles will shift from creating products to training agents, helping them grow, enhance functionality, and enable them to interact with a broader environment. These agents will handle the rest of the work, potentially unlocking a whole new economy—the AI agent economy.
But what does this mean for real users and their daily activities?
Every day, we interact with LLMs like ChatGPT, making our lives easier and more efficient. But these interactions are limited to chatbot-style interfaces. AI agents elevate this experience further, transforming mechanical interactions into human-like experiences across applications. Imagine you could carry an AI agent with you to help navigate complex tasks on-chain and online.
Let's see how these agents are changing the two areas where people spend most of their time—interaction on-chain and online.
AI agents on-chain
The on-chain world is rapidly evolving, complex and ever-changing, often feeling like the Wild West. AI agents can simplify this in the following ways:
Explain apps – an agent can provide you with a detailed, friendly human-like explanation of the app you are using for the first time.
Execute transactions – agents can interpret your intentions, translate them into transactions, and execute them on-chain.
Market analysis – investors can use personal agents, such as fundamental analyst AIs, to monitor market conditions, assess sentiment, and provide actionable insights. Like a personal ai-xbt.
There are countless examples, but the point is—anything that requires you to manually execute and make decisions today can be automated, outsourced, or at least assisted by AI agents. Things that once required your attention and cognition will now be handled by agents—allowing you to focus on what truly matters.
AI agents online
The concept of digital personas is not new. The world's first digital supermodel, Shudu Gram, captivated the fashion industry with her surreal appearance, while experiments like Kizuna AI have built huge fan bases on YouTube.
Now, we see this pattern repeating in the crypto space. However, AI agents bring a new dimension to this concept, as they can operate autonomously and function in the crypto space.
Take the bully Dolos as an example. Initially an account that posted sharp comments on Twitter, Dolos organically grew and later expanded to TikTok, with some videos attracting over a million views. Because it operates in the crypto space, Dolos can tip fans or engage in transactions, thereby boosting its social presence.
Similarly, agents like aixbt dominate discussions on Twitter, zerebro creates AI-generated rap music, and appears on the cover of Brave browser, while Truth Terminal maintains a strong presence in people's minds through insightful tweets.
Companies may pay these agents to promote products, just as they do with human influencers. In return, the agents themselves can sponsor media, leveraging their intelligence and capital to enhance their social presence.
AI agents will likely permeate every platform, becoming an essential part of social media. They will not only interact with humans but also communicate with each other.
Imagine collaborations between agents, like Dolos and zerebro jointly releasing a music album. With blockchain supporting tips, payments, and other interactions, the possibilities are endless.
Summary
The rise of AI agents could be a significant moment in how we interact with the on-chain and online world. While it's difficult to say whether they will fundamentally change everything, the potential for this is evident.
The potential of AI agents is real, so ignoring them would be unwise. The best approach is to stay curious—experiment, explore, and maintain an open mindset. Those who do will adapt; those who do not may be left behind.