Vitalik Buterin Says Local AI Could Reduce Reliance on Crypto Web Apps

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said locally run AI could help crypto users handle blockchain tasks through simpler tools, reducing reliance on complex web apps that load fresh code from a server whenever they open.

In an essay on digital minimalism, Buterin argued that fetching app code from a server each time leaves users exposed to a breach of that server. He also said websites can identify people through device information and behavior, then pass data to third parties.

Buterin described using an AI-generated command-line utility to change an IPFS hash tied to ENS. He also said he used kohaku-cli to make several payments through privacy protocols.

He argued local AI could let users operate tools designed to work together with natural-language instructions, giving them more control. The idea builds on Buterin’s earlier discussion of AI as a user interface for blockchain networks.