Vitalik Buterin: "AI Can Be Used to Detect Errors in Ethereum Network"
Date: 2024-02-19 Author: Dima Zakharov Categories: IN WORLD
Vitalik Buterin's Insight
Vitalik Buterin, a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency realm, proposes the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) to unveil and address hidden flaws lurking in the Ethereum network's code. According to Buterin, AI could streamline the formal verification process of code, consequently mitigating significant technical risks, thus enhancing Ethereum's network operations.
Approaching Dencun Update
Buterin's remarks surface ahead of the highly anticipated Dencun update scheduled for March 13. While Dencun was deployed on the Goerli testnet on January 17, an error in the Prysm client halted operations for four hours.
Diverging Perspectives on AI's Reliability
However, not all stakeholders concur on AI being a dependable tool for identifying Ethereum code errors. In July 2023, OpenZeppelin conducted experiments employing GPT-4 by OpenAI to pinpoint security issues in Solidity smart contracts. Despite some successes, it was revealed that AI inadvertently invented vulnerabilities not initially present.
Cautionary Notes from Security Experts
CertiK's Security Director, Kang Li, suggests that AI-based tools like ChatGPT often exacerbate security issues during coding rather than resolving them. Li recommends employing AI solely as an assistant for experienced programmers engaged in code analysis and reverse engineering.
Buterin's Cautionary Reminder
Buterin recently cautioned developers against indiscriminate AI integration, particularly in prediction markets or stablecoins. He warns of the potential catastrophic financial losses if such oracles become vulnerable to attacks. In November, the Ethereum co-founder expressed concerns about AI's potential adversarial stance against humanity.
