On-chain AI and the future of privacy: Jesse Glass talks identity, AGI, and Decide AI’s 2025 roadmap
In a recent episode of the SlateCast, CryptoSlate’s Editor-in-Chief Liam “Akiba” Wright and CEO Nate Whitehill sat down with Jesse Glass, Lead AI Researcher at Decide AI. The conversation delved into Decide AI’s groundbreaking efforts to merge artificial intelligence (AI) with blockchain technology, focusing on privacy-preserving identity verification, the role of decentralized AI in advancing AGI (artificial general intelligence), and the future of data ownership.
Revolutionizing Identity Verification
Jesse Glass opened the discussion by explaining Decide AI’s core mission: to create AI-driven applications that verify human identity without storing sensitive data on-chain. This approach enables “civil resistance” and ensures higher data quality while maintaining user privacy.
“Decide AI is a set of AI applications and integrations for LLMs and identity. For ID, we use AI to verify that you’re a human without storing that data on-chain,” said Glass.
The system integrates with both blockchain and Web2 applications, offering a novel solution to data protection. With increasing scrutiny on how personal data is handled by centralized entities, Decide AI’s strategy could serve as a blueprint for privacy-first verification protocols.
AI on the Blockchain: Challenges and Possibilities
Deploying AI on-chain is a significant challenge, but one that Decide AI is actively addressing. Glass shared insights from his experience deploying GPT-2 on the Internet Computer (ICP) blockchain. He highlighted the technical hurdles posed by blockchain’s computational constraints, noting that traditional AI workflows rely on off-chain compute resources provided by large corporations.
“When I experimented with deploying GPT-2 on the Internet Computer, it exposed how spoiled we’ve become outsourcing compute to megacorporations,” said Glass.
“On-chain AI presents challenges like quantization, CPU cache vs. instructions, and WASM compilation, which requires optimized data structures.”
Glass’s perspective underscores the shift required to make AI more decentralized. While traditional AI models are supported by powerful centralized infrastructures, on-chain AI demands more efficient computation and novel optimization methods. This paradigm shift is not just technical but philosophical, embodying the broader Web3 ethos of decentralization.
Open Source vs. Proprietary AI Development
The conversation shifted to the future of AGI and whether open-source initiatives could outpace proprietary AI development. Glass argued that the open-source community has a better chance of achieving AGI due to its collaborative nature and access to diverse datasets.
“I’m not convinced proprietary companies will achieve AGI. They’re too focused on profits. The open-source community has potential because AGI requires large datasets, collaboration, and contributions from multiple teams,” Glass remarked.
He emphasized that AGI development might resemble academic research—open, collaborative, and driven by shared goals—rather than a closed, profit-driven race by tech giants.
The Role of Blockchain in Data Ownership and Privacy
Data privacy remains a core focus for Decide AI’s mission. Glass stressed the importance of educating users on data ownership, especially as younger generations tend to disregard privacy concerns. Blockchain’s immutable, transparent nature offers a compelling counterbalance to current data collection models.
“Younger generations tend to care less because they don’t understand the consequences,” Glass noted.
“Blockchain’s approach—keeping data on-chain, never leaving—is part of this shift. But cultural change takes time.”
In this context, Decide AI’s privacy-preserving identity solutions offer a practical means for users to regain control over their data. By allowing people to participate in decentralized applications without relinquishing personal information, Decide AI is reimagining the future of Web3 and privacy-first ecosystems.
Future Roadmap for Decide AI
When asked about Decide AI’s 2025 roadmap, Glass outlined plans to expand the protocol’s integrations and capabilities. Key milestones include the release of a Solana integration for Decide ID, followed by support for Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) blockchains.
“We’re releasing a Solana integration for Decide ID, followed by EVM integrations,” said Glass.
“My research focuses on executing privacy-preserving, on-chain video and image processing. This includes unique character recognition, facial recognition, and pose estimation.”
Additionally, Glass highlighted Decide AI’s goal of developing autonomous LLM agents that operate fully on-chain. This would enable self-executing AI agents to perform complex tasks in decentralized environments, opening up new possibilities for smart contracts and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Closing Thoughts
The SlateCast episode with Jesse Glass revealed the immense potential of integrating AI with blockchain technology. By merging AI’s predictive power with blockchain’s transparency and security, projects like Decide AI are driving innovation in privacy-preserving identity verification, decentralized data ownership, and open-source AGI development.
As the world’s reliance on AI grows, so too does the need for privacy-first solutions. Decide AI’s commitment to protecting user data and fostering collaboration through open-source initiatives could signal a fundamental shift in how AI systems are developed and deployed. As regulatory frameworks evolve and new integrations roll out, the intersection of AI, blockchain, and decentralized identity verification will undoubtedly be a critical area to watch in the coming years.
Disclosure: This podcast was a paid partnership brought to you in collaboration with PR Genius.
