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Illia Polosukhin: Near Protocol – From AI to High-Throughput Blockchain

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Jan 6, 2024

Illia Poloshukhin, founder of Near Protocol, discusses the journey from AI to high-throughput blockchain, the scalability of large language models, Near's abstraction of the blockchain for decentralized development, and the role of account aggregation and interoperability.

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Introduction

00:00 • 3min

Exploring AI and Teaching Machines to Code

02:42 • 13min

Exploring the Spectrum of Stochastic Parrots and Understanding in Language Models

15:36 • 6min

Applying LMS to the Near Ecosystem

21:09 • 12min

Designing Near Protocol for a Simplified Blockchain Experience

33:09 • 18min

Interoperability Solutions and Near Protocol's Role

51:37 • 29min

Partnership Between Near and I Can Deal

01:20:10 • 8min

What began as an AI company trying to seek solutions in order to pay remote (unbanked) workers, Near AI became, in 2018, Near Protocol. Its sharded design was inspired by modern database architecture and large language model (LLM) training. Near Protocol aimed to solve the scalability trilemma, through a modular approach, combining data availability sharding with stateless validation. By abstracting away archaic blockchain standards, Near basically enabled decentralised full stack development and, in terms of UX, a distributed custodial solution via chain abstraction and account aggregation.

We were joined by Illia Poloshukhin, co-founder of Near Protocol, to discuss Near’s journey, from AI company to high-throughput L1 blockchain, and how LLM training influenced the modular design choice.

Topics covered in this episode:

Illia’s background in AI & ML
Scaling large language models (LLMs) and the role of attention
Stochastic Parrot vs. Understanding spectrum
From Near AI to Near Protocol and the role of LLMs
How Near abstracted the blockchain away and enabled decentralised full stack development
Defining ecosystem standards to improve UX
Chain abstraction, account aggregation and interoperability
Chain threshold signature
Near’s intent layer
Near’s modularity, Nightshade sharding & stateless validation
EigenLayer integration

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This episode is hosted by Meher Roy & Felix Lutsch. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/529