A New Era in Artificial Intelligence
The artificial intelligence sector has exploded in recent years, with no signs of slowing down. However, most companies and projects rely on centralized services like Amazon Web Services (AWS) for cloud computing power. While these services provide immense computing capabilities, they can be costly and prone to outages.
Decentralization: A Solution to the Problems
Wes Levitt, head of strategy at Theta Labs, a company behind the decentralized cloud platform Theta Network, believes that decentralization is the answer to these issues. According to him, decentralized cloud computing saves customers money, offers greater reliability and flexibility, and democratizes access to computing power.
The Power of Decentralized Cloud Services
Theta Labs’ mission is to decentralize the cloud and provide a platform for AI, media, and entertainment applications. By doing so, they aim to get away from having only a few points of failure and near-monopolies in the case of major cloud providers. Levitt shared that while Theta started out focused primarily on media and entertainment, it has seen a massive influx of AI-related customers since the current AI boom began.
Academia Finds Decentralized Cloud Computing Useful
One sector that has found decentralized cloud computing especially useful is academia. According to Levitt, "The strongest inroads we’ve made in the last six to 12 months have been in academia, actually." Theta Labs has signed on with several top Korean universities and recently partnered with the University of Oregon.
Universities find the service useful because it opens up access to AI computing for organizations that can’t afford AWS. Additionally, there are unique quirks within academia that make decentralized cloud computing a good fit. Universities need to rapidly scale up research efforts before conferences and then immediately scale them down. This requires flexibility and affordability, which decentralized cloud services provide.
Theta Labs vs. Amazon Web Services: A Comparison
The market capitalization of AI and big data crypto projects has grown significantly over the past year, from $16.17 billion in December 2023 to peak at over $70 billion on Dec. 6, 2024. Given this massive growth, it’s natural to wonder if AWS could be replaced by a service like Theta Network.
However, according to Levitt, that’s not really the intention of the project. He believes that there will always be a role for centralization in certain use cases. For example, some learning models require a cluster of nodes focused in a specific area rather than a global network.
The Future of Decentralized AI
Levitt sees a future where decentralized AI could one day rival its centralized counterparts, but with different use cases. He emphasized that AWS is not going to be killed off, and the centralized cloud players will continue to exist. Instead, there will be a balance between centralization and decentralization.
Conclusion
Decentralized cloud computing is revolutionizing the way we access AI computing power. Theta Labs’ vision of providing a decentralized platform for AI, media, and entertainment applications has resonated with academia and other sectors. While AWS will continue to play a significant role in the industry, decentralized AI could one day become a viable alternative.
Listen to More from Wes Levitt’s Conversation
To hear more from Levitt’s conversation with The Agenda, including how Theta Network tackles multimedia streaming, whether politicians are capable of regulating AI and more, listen to the full episode on Cointelegraph’s Podcasts page, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.
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About the Author
This article is written for general information purposes only and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.
About Theta Labs
Theta Labs is a company behind the decentralized cloud platform Theta Network. Their mission is to provide a decentralized platform for AI, media, and entertainment applications.
About Amazon Web Services (AWS)
AWS is a centralized cloud computing service provider that offers immense computing capabilities but can be costly and prone to outages.
About Decentralized Cloud Computing
Decentralized cloud computing refers to the use of decentralized networks and blockchain technology to provide cloud computing services. This approach aims to provide greater security, reliability, and flexibility compared to traditional centralized cloud services.
Related Topics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Blockchain Technology
- Cloud Computing
- Decentralization
- Theta Labs