Most
of
us
don’t
think
twice
when
popping
something
into
ChatGPT.
We’ve
gone
from
expecting
results
for
“Thai
food
near
me”
in
a
few
seconds
to
itineraries
for
a
two-week
food
tour
around
Thailand
just
as
quickly.
The
end-user
experience
for
this
doesn’t
feel
very
different.
But
from
an
energy
standpoint,
a
lot
has
changed.
A
ChatGPT
search
reportedly
uses
ten
times
as
much
power
as
a
Google
search
query.
With
the
current
energy
infrastructure
already
nearing
its
limits,
the
GenAI
industry
is
worried
about
overloading
data
centers
and
returning
to
non-renewable
energy
sources.
Even
Open
AI’s
Sam
Altman
has
called
for
clean
energy
to
solve
the
impending
GenAI
compute
crisis.
This
op-ed
is
part
of
CoinDesk’s
new
DePIN
Vertical,
covering
the
emerging
industry
of
decentralized
physical
infrastructure.
Decentralized
compute
networks
offer
a
promising
answer
to
the
GenAI
energy
question.
Leveraging
DePIN
will
encourage
technology
development,
democratize
access
to
powerful
resources,
and
onboard
more
users
into
web3.
Who
says
crypto
can’t
be
green?
DePIN’s
energy
potential
The
solution
to
powering
the
GenAI
explosion
could
very
well
be
in
your
home
office.
Decentralized
networks
can
leverage
the
power
of
edge
nodes
operated
from
computers
and
laptops.
If
a
computer
meets
the
minimum
hardware
requirements,
a
user
can
set
up
the
node
operating
dashboard
in
a
few
minutes.
The
network
then
uses
untapped
GPUs
to
run
compute
tasks
in
the
background.
Decentralized
edge
computing
can
also
help
balance
the
computational
load
more
effectively.
By
processing
data
closer
to
its
source,
edge
AI
reduces
latency
and
enhances
efficiency.
DePIN
compute
networks
aren’t
only
providing
new
power
sources,
but
also
rewarding
the
power
suppliers.
At
Theta,
for
example,
EdgeCloud
node
operators
earn
TFUEL
or
TNT-20
tokens
for
completing
compute
jobs.
They
can
further
stake
these
tokens
to
help
govern
and
secure
the
blockchain
from
EdgeCloud
clients.
It’s
similar
to
NEAR’s
cloud
computing
for
blockchain
projects
or
Flux
for
dapps.
Participants
receive
tokens
to
lend
their
resources
to
a
network.
Decentralized
compute
networks
present
a
win-win
scenario.
Node
operators
can
exchange
their
reward
tokens
for
other
assets,
and
GenAI
applications
can
harness
their
necessary
energy.
Through
attractive
rewards,
DePIN
also
effectively
lowers
the
barriers
to
web3
entry.
And
as
countless
airdrops
have
shown
us,
rewards
are
an
easy
way
to
encourage
more
users
to
explore
and
contribute
to
the
ecosystem
at
large.
Sustainability
Environmentalists
will
tell
you
that
re-using
existing
resources
is
one
of
the
most
beneficial
climate
actions
you
can
take.
DePIN
protocols
apply
this
idea
to
computing
networks
by
providing
new
utility
to
underutilized
hardware.
Very
few
home
computers
are
running
at
full
power
24/7.
DePIN
repurposes
their
CPU/GPU
and,
in
turn,
reduces
the
need
to
manufacture
new
devices.
This
approach
maximizes
available
resources
while
enhancing
network
efficiency.
While
the
total
energy
usage
might
increase
due
to
the
higher
availability
of
GPUs,
the
decentralized
model
ensures
that
this
energy
is
used
sustainably.
Despite
its
potential,
skepticism
from
the
general
public
during
the
DePIN
rollout
is
practically
a
given.
The
industry
has
a
lot
of
work
to
do
before
it
can
prove
it’s
matured
past
FTX-level
disasters.
Environmental
concerns
around
mining
are
still
popular
arguments
against
cryptocurrencies.
This
means
DePIN
use
cases
that
protect
the
climate
are
incredibly
valuable.
DePIN
providing
green
solutions
for
our
favorite
AI
tools
is
even
better.
It’s
another
proof
point
for
DePIN
being
a
solid
path
toward
mainstream
adoption.
Democratizing
GenAI
access
It’s
not
just
an
energy
question.
Access
to
high-performance
GPUs
has
traditionally
been
limited
to
large
enterprises.
Cloud
providers
are
expensive,
and
their
packages
often
don’t
match
small
business
needs.
This
exclusivity
has
prevented
smaller
institutions
from
leveraging
advanced
AI
tools.
It’s
a
repeat
of
an
all-too-common
technology
phenomenon
–
financial
barriers
ensure
those
with
capital
stay
in
power.
GenAI
can
support
breakthroughs
from
new
rare
disease
treatments
to
completing
crypto
transactions.
These
must
not
be
limited
to
just
a
few
actors.
Thankfully,
DePIN
democratizes
GPU
access
by
making
it
affordable
and
accessible
to
a
broader
audience.
Universities,
startups,
and
independent
researchers
can
now
harness
the
power
of
AI
without
financial
concerns.
This
mission
aligns
with
one
of
the
blockchain
community’s
main
goals
of
financial
inclusion
and
connecting
more
people
to
digital
assets.
It
also
speaks
to
the
power
of
moving
away
from
centralized
providers.
Unfortunately,
the
crypto
industry
is
intimately
familiar
with
the
dangerous
impact
of
a
single
bad
actor.
Providing
more
institutions
with
access
to
decentralized
GPUs
prevents
an
overreliance
on
a
single
data
center
or
AI
company.
If
AI
penetrates
our
lives
the
way
experts
predict,
it’s
imperative
that
no
single
company
has
too
much
say
in
what
this
looks
like.
The
future
of
DePIN
and
GenAI
This
year’s
DePIN
summer
is
also
an
AI
summer.
As
hundreds
of
thousands
flock
to
warm
destinations
with
cold
drinks,
they’ve
likely
already
been
aware
of
AI’s
influence.
Maybe
they
had
facial
recognition
at
their
boarding
gate,
or
perhaps
ChatGPT
helped
them
find
their
dream
resort.
Behind
the
scenes,
these
applications
were
gathering
vast
amounts
of
energy
to
make
our
lives
easier.
Many
don’t
realize
that
DePIN
applications
will
start
to
pop
up
just
as
quickly.
We’ll
be
given
more
opportunities
to
monetize
our
resources,
whether
that’s
CPU,
GPU
or
GPS
history.
There’s
no
reason
these
developments
must
be
at
odds
with
each
other.
In
fact,
they
should
develop
in
tandem.
DePIN
can
help
ensure
AI
development
is
energy-efficient
and
climate-friendly.
In
the
AI
age,
GPU
is
the
new
oil,
and
we
should
treat
it
as
such.
Note:
The
views
expressed
in
this
column
are
those
of
the
author
and
do
not
necessarily
reflect
those
of
CoinDesk,
Inc.
or
its
owners
and
affiliates.