In the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, 2025 could go down as a watershed moment. As AI continues to revolutionise industries, concerns about data ownership, copyright, and fairness have reached a crescendo. The conversation is shifting from mere technological advancements to ethical frameworks that prioritise inclusion and equitable reward systems.
The Problem with Centralised AI
AI’s rapid adoption has raised questions about who controls the data used to train these models. OpenAI, one of the sector’s most prominent players, openly acknowledged in 2024 that its iconic chatbot, ChatGPT, relied on vast amounts of copyrighted material scraped from the internet. Yet, the content creators behind this data remain uncompensated.
This practice of training AI on publicly available content has led to a growing number of legal challenges. The New York Times, for instance, has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing it of copyright infringement for using thousands of its articles to train ChatGPT. This lawsuit underscores a broader debate: should AI developers have free rein to scrape online content, or must they seek permission and provide compensation?
Shifting Perspectives in AI Development
The mounting legal and ethical challenges surrounding AI have catalysed efforts to find more sustainable alternatives. Decentralised AI frameworks are emerging as a promising solution. These systems, which leverage blockchain technology, aim to give content creators greater control over their data and ensure fair compensation for its use.
The Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) Alliance is at the forefront of this movement. Formed in late 2024, the alliance comprises three blockchain-based startups: SingularityNET, Fetch.ai, and Ocean Protocol. Together, they are building a framework that empowers content creators to contribute data while retaining ownership and earning rewards whenever their material is accessed by AI developers. This approach not only ensures fairer practices but also fosters transparency in AI development.
Ethical AI: Decentralisation in Action
One of the ASI Alliance’s flagship initiatives is ASI, a programme dedicated to creating ethical, domain-specific AI models. Unlike general-purpose large language models (LLMs), which excel at generating content and answering questions, these specialised models are designed to solve complex problems in fields like robotics, medicine, and science.
The alliance’s first model, Cortex, is inspired by the human brain and aims to power autonomous robots operating in real-world environments. Experts from various industries are invited to contribute data, which is then securely stored on a blockchain. This decentralised approach ensures that all contributors are fairly compensated through mechanisms encoded in smart contracts.
Fetch.ai CEO Humayun Sheikh emphasises the inclusivity of this model, stating that individuals can become part-owners of decentralised AI systems by staking FET tokens. This allows them to share in the revenue generated by these models, creating a participatory ecosystem where value is distributed equitably.
Addressing the Copyright Conundrum
The case for decentralised AI is bolstered by the ongoing debates around copyright infringement. Many AI developers currently exploit a legal grey area, claiming “fair use” when scraping content from the internet. However, the ambiguity surrounding what constitutes fair use has led to growing discontent among content creators, who argue that such practices threaten their livelihoods.
Former OpenAI researcher Suchir Balaji revealed the extent of data scraping practices, which included pirated books, social media posts, and articles behind paywalls. While he initially believed in the “fair use” argument, Balaji later resigned, citing ethical concerns over the potential harm to content creators.
Decentralised AI frameworks offer a way forward, aligning with the growing consensus that creators deserve both recognition and compensation for their contributions. By leveraging blockchain technology, these systems provide a transparent and ethical foundation for AI development, where the rights of every stakeholder are respected.
The Future of AI: Ethical and Transparent
As legal battles and ethical dilemmas continue to shape the AI landscape, decentralised models are gaining traction as a fairer alternative to the centralised systems dominated by big tech. These frameworks offer a more inclusive approach, ensuring that content creators, developers, and users alike benefit from AI’s transformative potential.
The ASI Alliance and its initiatives mark a significant step towards democratising AI development. By promoting transparency, decentralisation, and fair compensation, they provide a blueprint for a more ethical and sustainable future for artificial intelligence.
The stakes are high, and the need for change is urgent. In an industry poised to reshape the world, ensuring that AI serves the many rather than the few is not just a lofty ideal—it is an absolute necessity.
