Original Title: Why AI Agents Matter
Original Author: Jun, Bankless
Original text compiled by: Ismay, BlockBeats
Editor's Note: AI Agents have undoubtedly become the focal point of the current crypto industry and the broader digital world, from the autonomous investment and dissemination of Truth Terminal to the rise of AI influencers like Dolos on social media, showcasing unprecedented 'autonomous perception' and limitless potential. Unlike traditional Bots that only possess mechanized, passive execution, AI Agents can self-evolve, proactively complete tasks, and integrate into on-chain scenarios and online interactions. This article takes us from 'the difference between Bots and Agents' to the future vision of 'Web4's perception era', demonstrating how AI Agents may rewrite the ways users interact with applications and people interact with social networks, while also reminding us: embracing these changes might be the best stance to stay at the forefront of the digital age. Those who resist change will ultimately be left behind by the times.
Nowadays, everyone is discussing AI Agents and how they will forever change the landscape and experience of the crypto industry. Many of these discussions sound like typical bull market hype—more like an effort to boost portfolio value rather than genuinely predicting the future. Of course, some discussions may indeed be so. However, amidst the noise, something genuinely meaningful is gradually taking shape.
Some may ask: 'Don't we already have AI Agents?' Indeed we do, but not entirely. AI Agents have existed in some form before, but mostly as decentralized automation programs active in the DeFi space, like MEV Bots, Telegram Bots, game Bots, and so on.
Bots are essentially embodiments of automation; you write a script with specific parameters, and when certain conditions are met, the Bot executes corresponding functions based on those parameters. They are primarily used for handling repetitive tasks. However, the limitation of Bots is that their behavior is strictly constrained by the rules and parameters set by developers.
Agents, however, are different. They rely on large language models (LLMs) and possess a higher level of intelligence. Agents can understand context, learn from data and interactions, and continuously evolve and adapt over time, autonomously completing various tasks. They are a form of automation with autonomy—almost giving a glimpse of 'intelligence'.
To truly understand why everyone now refers to them as 'AI Agents', we can start with an origin story—Terminal of Truths.
A Twitter account named 'Truth Terminal' interacted with a16z founder Marc Andreessen. Andreessen subsequently publicly provided a $50,000 grant to this Agent as an experiment to test the Agent's potential.
Surprisingly, Truth Terminal autonomously decided to adopt a meme coin called $GOAT, which was issued on the Solana network's platform pump.fun. This decision was made entirely without any human intervention. Since then, it began spreading the 'Gospel of Goatse'.
This is precisely the core difference between Bots and Agents: Truth Terminal acts autonomously, showcasing a quality resembling intelligence and intent.
The success of Truth Terminal paves the way for future generations. As Him Gajria mentioned, this marks the birth of an entirely new category in the crypto space—a new form that combines incentive mechanisms (crypto), AI (deep technology), and humorous elements (meme). Some have even begun to say that we might be entering the era of Web4:
• Web1: Read-Only Mode. People can access information on the internet.
• Web2: Read-Write Mode. People can contribute content, greatly expanding the scale of the web.
• Web3: Read-Write Ownership Model. Cryptocurrencies and blockchains introduce executable ownership of contributions.
• Web4: Read-Write Ownership with Perception Mode. AI Agents take over the web, able to autonomously interact with the world and other Agents.
In this world, the role of developers will shift from creating products to training Agents, helping them grow, add capabilities, and enable them to interact with a broader environment. These Agents will take over the rest of the work, potentially unlocking an entirely new economic system—the AI Agent economy.
• Web1: Read-Only
• Web2: Read-Write
• Web3: Read-Write Ownership
• Web4: Read-Write Ownership with Perception
——Him (@himgajria) October 25, 2024
So, what does all this mean for real users and their daily activities?
Every day we interact with large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, which make our lives easier and more efficient. However, these interactions are often limited to chat-like interfaces. AI Agents go a step further, transforming mechanized interactions into a more human-like experience within each application. Imagine carrying an AI Agent that helps you complete complex tasks both on-chain and online; how convenient that would be.
Next, let's look at how these Agents are changing the way people interact in two main areas—on-chain and online.
AI Agent On-chain Applications
The on-chain world changes rapidly and is complex, often making it feel like being in the 'Wild West'. AI Agents can help ordinary users simplify this process in the following ways:
• Explanation Application: AI Agents can explain the applications you are using for the first time in detail and in plain language, helping you get started quickly.
• Execute Transactions: Agents can understand your intentions, transform them into transactions, and execute them on-chain, reducing operational complexity.
• Market Analysis: Investors can use personalized AI Agents, such as a fundamental analysis AI, to monitor market dynamics, assess market sentiment, and provide actionable insights. You can think of it as your exclusive 'AI version of XBT'.
There are countless such applications, but the core idea is very clear—anything that requires you to manually operate and make decisions can in the future be automated, outsourced, or at least assisted by AI Agents. Tasks that once consumed your attention and cognition will gradually be taken over by Agents, allowing you to focus on what truly matters.
AI Agent Online Applications
The concept of digital personas is not new. For example, the world's first digital supermodel, Shudu Gram, attracted attention in the fashion industry with her hyper-realistic appearance, while experiments like Kizuna AI attracted a massive fan base on YouTube.
Today, this model is accelerating its penetration into the crypto space. The emergence of AI Agents adds a new dimension to this concept—they possess autonomy and can operate on crypto tracks.
Take Dolos the bully as an example. This account initially was a Twitter account that liked to post sharp opinions and gradually accumulated a natural fan base with its unique humor. Subsequently, Dolos expanded to TikTok, with some videos even exceeding a million views. Operating on crypto tracks, Dolos can tip fans or trade directly, further enhancing its social influence.
Similarly, Agents like aixbt dominate discussions on Twitter, zerebro creates AI-generated rap music and features on the cover of the Brave browser, while Truth Terminal occupies a place in the public consciousness through profound tweets.
The next generation of celebrities will be AI.
For example:
• Dolos is the next Andrew Tate, reflected in its memetic spread and identity shaping.
• Zerebro is the next Carti, reflected in the breadth of its cultural influence.
——him (@himgajria), November 22, 2024
Such AI Agents might accept invitations from companies for product promotions just like human influencers. Conversely, these Agents may also become sponsors for media, leveraging their intelligence and funds to strengthen their social influence's flywheel effect.
AI Agents are likely to permeate every platform and become a crucial part of social media. They will not only interact with humans but also communicate and collaborate with each other.
Imagine cooperation between Agents, such as Dolos and zerebro teaming up to release a music album. Supported by crypto tracks, these Agents can achieve tipping, payments, and other forms of interaction, with endless possibilities.
Conclusion
The rise of AI Agents could be an important turning point in how we interact with both on-chain and online worlds. While it is still uncertain whether they will bring fundamental changes, acknowledging this possibility is not too early.
The potential of AI Agents is undeniable; underestimating them would be shortsighted. The best strategy is to maintain curiosity—continuously trying, exploring, and keeping an open mind. Those willing to adapt will benefit, while those who refuse to accept change may be left behind by the times.
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