Solana Labs Develops AI Plugin for Enhanced NFT & Blockchain Interaction

The Solana Foundation has unveiled the integration of AI into the Solana blockchain, made possible via a ChatGPT plugin crafted by Solana Labs. This event stands as a first – the inaugural occasion of a Layer 1 blockchain joining forces with AI.

Streamlined NFT and Blockchain Interactions via AI

The said ChatGPT plugin, available for download from Github, provides users with an easy-to-navigate method to engage with Solana data and protocols. It comes in handy when purchasing NFTs, transferring tokens, scrutinising transactions, decoding public account data, and pinpointing NFT collections according to their floor price.

Solana co-founder and the helm at Solana Labs, Anatoly Yakovenko, underlined the significance of this development: “Every developer building consumer-oriented apps should be thinking about how their app is going to be interacted with through an AI model because this is a new paradigm for telling computers what to do,” Yakovenko said. “AI will make Solana more usable and understandable.”

Yakovenko referred to Solana’s distinguishing features—fast throughput, minimal costs, and an intuitive interface—indicating that these factors facilitate the seamless and efficient interaction of AI models with the network. Despite this initiative being at the dawn of its implementation, Solana is gradually cementing its position as a pivotal hub of growing AI activity in the web3 space.

Solana Foundation’s Initiatives for AI Advancements

The Solana Foundation is initiating two key moves to hasten the fusion of AI within Solana. Firstly, they’re escalating the funds allocated to their strategic grants program, catering to AI-focused projects, from an initially announced $1 million to an upper limit of $10 million. This program, crafted to encourage the investigation of new machine learning model use cases within Solana protocols, has already received 50 applications.

Furthermore, the foundation is kick-starting a three-month accelerator program solely for university students. This endeavour features a group wholly committed to exploring the junction of blockchain and AI. The program has already been flooded with applications from diverse projects and contributors, giving rise to the “Ask Solana U” chatbot and “Solana Audits AI”. These AI tools aspire to support Solana development and bolster security for Solana-based programs.

Since reaching impressive heights in 2022, Solana has navigated some challenging waters. The network faced several obstacles that tested its resilience, mirroring the broader twists and turns of the fast-paced crypto world.

However, Solana has been showing signs of a comeback, an upswing fueled partly by a vibrant surge in NFT activity. For instance, collections like Mad Lads have been making waves on the platform.