Vitalik Buterin on Using AI to Address Ethereum’s Biggest Technical Risk

The Potential Role of AI in Solving Technical Risks for Ethereum

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin believes that artificial intelligence could play a crucial role in addressing one of the network’s biggest technical challenges – hidden bugs in its code.

In a recent post on X, Buterin expressed his enthusiasm for using AI-powered auditing to identify and fix buggy code in the Ethereum network. He considers this to be the most significant technical risk facing the network.

Buterin’s remarks come as Ethereum prepares to launch its highly anticipated Dencun upgrade on March 13. While the upgrade was successfully implemented on the Goerli testnet on January 17, a bug in Prsym caused a four-hour delay in finalizing the network. Upgrades like Dencun are essential for the long-term development of the blockchain.

However, not everyone is convinced that AI is a reliable tool for detecting bugs in Ethereum-based code.

OpenAI’s GPT-4 Used in Security Experiments on Solidity Smart Contracts

In July 2023, OpenZeppelin conducted a series of experiments that utilized OpenAI’s GPT-4 to identify security issues in Solidity smart contracts, the native language of Ethereum code.

Out of 28 challenges, GPT-4 successfully identified vulnerabilities in 20 of them, showcasing its potential in the field of web 3.0 security.

However, there were instances where GPT-4 failed to detect flaws, but it could quickly correct its mistakes when prompted. On the other hand, it also created non-existent vulnerabilities, raising concerns about the ethics of using AI in coding.

Kang Li, the chief security officer at CertiK, shared with Cointelegraph that AI-powered tools like ChatGPT often end up causing more security issues than they solve.

The Impact of AI on Web 3.0 and Blockchain Technology

According to Li, AI should only be used as an assistant to experienced coders in the development process. It can be a helpful tool in quickly explaining code, but should not be relied upon entirely.

While Buterin is optimistic about the future of AI, he has cautioned against its use in high-risk applications, such as oracles in blockchain technology. He warns that if an AI oracle is vulnerable to attack, it could result in a significant loss of funds.

It is crucial for developers to exercise caution when implementing AI with blockchain technology, especially when it comes to applications like prediction markets or stablecoins. These high-risk applications could face significant consequences if an AI oracle is compromised.