Cortex Labs has announced the successful launch of its technology platform, with the network itself designed for the operation of AI based algorithms.

This will bring deep learning models to the world of blockchain, which will accelerate the development of both machine learning and blockchain solutions.

The Cortex mainnet was launched following 15 months of intense development and marks the first time that AI has been introduced to a blockchain network at scale.

The Cortex team has overcome numerous technical challenges to devise, in the Cortex Virtual Machine (CVM), a mechanism for AI models to function within the blockchain ecosystem using a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU).

This will allow for many developers to experiment with deep learning within blockchain technology, including AI development and advanced data science applications.

Trained AI models can be uploaded to the Cortex network Cortex chain before being incorporated into various uses.

“Blockchain machine learning is an extremely complex endeavour due to the computational demands”, said Cortex CEO Ziqi Chen.

“With the Cortex Virtual Machine, we’ve achieved a breakthrough that brings the benefits of artificial intelligence to a wider audience.

“Although blockchain developers will be among the first beneficiaries of the Cortex mainnet, this is only the beginning. In time, we expect to develop a diverse range of use cases, all delivered on-chain.” 

These use cases will include generating credit reports for the financial industry, facilitating anti-fraud reporting for decentralised exchanges, insurance, and improve supply chain economics. Other potential applications include gaming, e-sports, and AI governance structures.

Explaining the rationale behind this latter concept, Ziqi Chen explained, “In the near future, we expect to see entire networks based on machine learning, decentralised decision making, malicious behaviour detection, smart resource allocation, and much more.

“These are challenges that all intersect with crypto networks, where having trained AI models that are accessible on-chain will prove to be extremely valuable.”

Cortex provides a structure for machine learning researchers to upload their data models, and monetise them with entities in need of AI models which are able to make inferences. The Cortex mainnet has launched with 23 AI models available and trained with four datasets.

A detailed roadmap includes plans for the Cortex Foundation to work with data science developers to implement AI applications, with plans to broaden support to bring machine learning to networks beyond the Cortex network.

The Cortex team also intends to collaborate with academia and industry for research partnerships, and with publications to help further understanding of neural networks and their integration into the emerging field of blockchain.