World first as AI and Blockchain come together to boost “Robot Intelligence”
Up until now AI and Blockchain have been kept separate but now they're joining forces to accelerate the development of robotic intelligence and the results could be awesome.
Key takeaways
- Arguably the two hottest trends in tech right now are Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain.
- What? DNA Computing, Hive Minds, Quantum Computing, Robots and Telepathic Interfaces? Who cares!
- Alright, AI and Blockchain are one of twenty of the hottest tech trends right now.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2017) 'World first as AI and Blockchain come together to boost “Robot Intelligence”', 311 Institute, 25 September. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/world-first-as-ai-and-blockchain-come-together-to-boost-robot-intelligence/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Arguably the two hottest trends in tech right now are Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain. Yes, yes, alright biologists and humanitarians, I’ll let you argue with me about the significance of 3D Printing, Gene Editing, Molecular Assemblers, Nanotech and Synthetic Biology in my next article. What? DNA Computing, Hive Minds, Quantum Computing, Robots and Telepathic Interfaces? Who cares! Alright, AI and Blockchain are one of twenty of the hottest tech trends right now. Happy? Anyway, let me get on with it…
Now, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, for those of you who have been waiting for AI and Blockchain to come together you need wait no longer. The time has arrived thanks to Hanson Robotics, the firm behind the rather “unique” Sofia robot who are now integrating Blockchain into their AI together, and the company’s latest endeavour is to create a cloud based, blockchain based AI marketplace where AI developers can post and share their work with others to help enhance the AI capabilities of existing robots, and build new ones.
"At Hanson Robotics, we've made a cloud based infrastructure for robot intelligence, but now we're looking to take that to the next level and we've launched a new project called SingularityNET, which is AI and blockchain together," said Ben Goertzel, Hansons Robotic’s Chief Scientist.
"It's a decentralized, open market for AIs in the cloud so anyone who develops an AI can put it into the SingularityNET, wrap it in our cryptocurrency based smart contract and then the AI they put there can help to serve the intelligence of robots like Sophia or any other robots or any software programs that need AI," he added.
While the use cases for Blockchain are almost, if not actually, limitless, from helping the DTCC secure trillions of dollars worth of trades and transform supply chains, to securing the US Nuclear arsenal to helping wipe our hunger and poverty, this is the first time I’ve seen AI and Blockchain come together in any meaningful way so it’ll be interesting to see how it pans out. That said though one thing is for certain, this won’t be the last time we see AI and Blockchain joined at the hip and something tells me that things are about to get even more interesting.
Anyway, I better get back to my boring day job of 3D Printing hearts in space and brain controlled nanobots. Yawn. Yes, yes Biologists, my next post will be on nanotech scouts honour… one "GPS for the nanobots in our bodies" post coming up next. Pushy aren't you? If you aren't careful I'll set this self-evolving robot on you...
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Up until now AI and Blockchain have been kept separate but now they're joining forces to accelerate the development of robotic intelligence and the results could be awesome.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- Hanson Robotics hansonrobotics.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 25 September 2017. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2017). World first as AI and Blockchain come together to boost “Robot Intelligence”. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/world-first-as-ai-and-blockchain-come-together-to-boost-robot-intelligence/
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