As an analyst with a background in blockchain technology and artificial intelligence, I share Emin Gün Sirer’s perspective that smart contract programming is currently a complex and challenging field. The potential for AI agents like ChatGPT or Llama to simplify this process by writing smart contracts for us is intriguing, as it could make the technology more accessible to everyday people and potentially bring in billions of new users. However, there are several challenges that need to be addressed before we can fully realize this vision.
“According to Emin Gün Sirer, the founder of Ava Labs and builder of the Avalanche blockchain, crafting smart contracts proves to be a complex task. Expressing the desired function accurately poses a difficulty. Writing the code is intricate. And validating the results continues to present a hurdle.”
At the recent Cornell Blockchain Conference in New York City, Sirer stated, “This issue is a significant barrier preventing smart contracts from thriving.”
As a crypto investor, I can only imagine the convenience if AI agents like ChatGPT or Llama took over the role of coding smart contracts for me. The complexity and intricacy of these contracts call for an expert hand, which might not necessarily belong to a coder but rather to a lawyer. In the near future, legal professionals could well become the go-to experts for writing smart contracts.
It’s even more intriguing that regular individuals could create sophisticated smart contracts using their native language in a peer-to-peer manner, just as simple as writing a check at the bank nowadays.
“That represents the coming developments.”
As a researcher studying financial instruments, I’m sure you’re all accustomed to using checks for your transactions. However, let me remind you that checks represent the most complex tool my retail bank provides for me in terms of financial transactions. Currently, you have limited choices when it comes to writing checks. For instance, you can write a check payable to “John” and effectively inscribe “I hereby transfer to John $5,000.” That’s essentially the extent of your options with checks at present.
carry out the same task while providing extra directions.”
“‘I hereby give John $5,000 if and only if he can collect $5 million by the end of September to film a movie. And if he can’t do it, then I want my money back.’ I can just write this.”
According to Sirer, his imagined situation may take between five to ten years to materialize, but once it does, it’s expected to bring about significant changes.
We would “be able to onboard billions of new [blockchain] users.”
Currently, the majority of smart contracts are penned down using Solidity, a relatively unknown programming language within the developer community.
Avalanche founder, Emin Gün Sirer, shared that the platform is developing a novel virtual machine integrating AI and blockchains. He described it as being “programmed in a conversational manner,” allowing users to write codes using everyday languages such as English, German, French, Tagalog, Chinese, or their native tongues.
Questions remain
Is it realistic to assume that we’ll see widespread use of these “coin-operated agents” referred to by Sirer, given the numerous challenges that must first be addressed?
As a legal analyst, I’d highlight the importance of clarifying the legal intricacies surrounding our project. We must define precisely the keywords and terms that carry significant meaning, such as “software.” A term like “software” may require meticulous definition before it can be incorporated into smart contracts dealing with software licenses. This process may consume some valuable time.
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Additionally, AI “agents” might not yet be capable of producing legally valid documents. Keep in mind that large language models have the tendency to “hallucinate,” meaning they may generate information that isn’t grounded in reality.
“Everybody has seen [AI-generated] pictures of seven-fingered people,” Sirer noted.
To tackle some of these issues temporarily, one possibility is to send transactions to both ChatGPT 3.5 and Llama for processing. This would mean that a contract resolution will only be implemented if both AI models concur. In essence, you’re utilizing the consensus of two reliable executors, thereby increasing trust in the outcome.
“Plain English instructions” for smart contracts
As a contract analyst, I’ve come across the notion that advanced smart contracts capable of processing “natural” language are either currently available or on the verge of being introduced.
In today’s world, every person has the power to function as their own programmer, according to Sam Friedman, the principal solutions architect at Chainlink Labs, as shared with CryptoMoon.
According to Friedman, the Council AI agent model created by ChainML within the Chainlink BUILD initiative facilitates the translation of clear-cut English directives into executable code effortlessly, primarily using Python and SQL at present. However, integrating smart contracts represents a simple enhancement in this process.
He additionally brought up the “Ask AI” feature in Chainlink Developer Hub, which generates a complete smart contract once a user inputs a simple English description, such as: “Please provide an illustration of a smart contract allowing a user to ask for a random number between one and ten. It must incorporate Chainlink VRF.”
As an analyst, I’d rephrase today’s discussions by saying: While some current solutions may fall short in terms of the complete functionalities that Sirer envisioned, it’s clear that significant progress remains to be made based on Friedman’s recent statement to CryptoMoon.
“Although intelligent AI systems capable of generating smart contracts currently exist,” he noted, “they are far from reaching their optimal stage.” Improvements in both quality and intricacy are essential for further advancement. “Continuous training of AI models with updated information is crucial for this progression.”
As a researcher exploring the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in smart contracts, I can envision scenarios where several autonomous AI “agents” work together, each with designated roles, to manage the entire lifecycle of a single contract. These agents could cooperate to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and adaptability in managing complex transactions. For example:
“One agent helps define the requirements, another writes the smart contract, another performs quality and security testing, another deploys the contracts, and the last one performs ongoing maintenance or tuning of the parameters or global variables in the contract after it’s deployed.”
As a crypto investor, I acknowledge that there are significant uncertainties in this space, and progress hinges on the input of diverse individuals. We need people who possess not only technical expertise but also a strong ethical foundation and a deep understanding of human nature to help shape the future of cryptocurrencies.
A place for lawyers, too?
During the Q&A session after his speech, someone inquired about who would create smart contracts if Solidity was no longer needed and plain text (ASCII) became the coding medium instead of Solidity.
Which software programmers would be most suited for this task? Given their current expertise in articulating intricate conditions clearly, they appear to be strong contenders.
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Lawyers hold the keys to effective contract communication. Consequently, they will reign supreme in this domain, mastering the art of thriving within this contractual system.
In Sirer’s opinion, even the average users possess the ability to define fundamental transactions. He envisions these new functionalities being established on “open, democratic platforms” where everyone can participate equally.
In summary, Sirer found this innovative take on smart contracts to be intriguing and promising to such an extent that he couldn’t help but express his enthusiasm for exploring it further.
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2024-05-08 16:30