The Community Speaks… Talking BasedAI Tech
In this blog article and another this week, we're doing something a little different. Instead of the usual updates and insights, we're bringing you special, interview-style blog posts.
We've reached out to several members of our community to ask them the same set of questions. Our goal is to showcase the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that make our community so unique.
By hearing directly from those who are deeply involved in PepeCoin/BasedAI, we hope to provide you with fresh insights and a deeper understanding of the project's impact.
This article’s theme is BasedAI Tech. Let’s dive in!
Community Participant Introduction:
Participant #1 :
Getzerod - https://x.com/getzerod
A software engineer with a passion for decentralization and AI technologies. Background in full-stack development and a growing focus on AI tooling. Actively involved in the BasedAI ecosystem, committed to pushing the boundaries of decentralized AI compute and open-source development.
Participant #2 :
0x7d54 - https://x.com/0x7d54
Decentralized finance (DeFi) fundamental analysis. Professor of human genomics/computational biology. CrypToadz #3995.
Participant #3 :
BPCRYPTO - https://x.com/BPCRYPTO11
A content creator on Twitter and YouTube, focusing on PepeCoin and BasedAI news, updates, and alpha.
Visit his YouTube channel for great video content: https://www.youtube.com/@bpcrypto11
Participant #4 :
0x1ee7 - https://x.com/0x1ee7
In the space since 2011, he’s an Elliott wave trader. Also, an engineer, a traveler, and a memecoin and options trading degen.
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Question #1: How did you get introduced to BasedAI? And what has been your main resource in understanding the ecosystem?
Participant #1 : Getzerod
I discovered BasedAI through Twitter in December '23, initially presented as part of the PepeCoin ecosystem. As a software engineer passionate about decentralization and AI, I was immediately drawn to the team's vision and projects like PepeOS and PepePaint. Initially, I immersed myself in the Telegram channels, asked numerous questions, and studied all available information on their website. Now, my focus has shifted to researching cutting-edge AI technologies and hardware solutions that can be applied to BasedAI, keeping me at the forefront of this rapidly evolving field.
Participant #2 : 0x7d54
I learned about PepeCoin and BasedAI via a "Pod-as-a-Service" program that I'd announced for Peapods Finance, which is a multi-chain DeFi dApp that introduced an innovative new volatility farming primitive. I'm not a team member for Peapods (and I'm not paid by Peapods or PepeCoin/BasedAI), but I gravitated towards the innovation, the decentralization, and the setup that incentivized pod creators and participants. Someone suggested PepeCoin/ BasedAI as great pod candidates, I looked into them and not only loved the innovative visions of the project but also the similar proactive community vibes, and so I set up a BasedAI pod that has been quite successful. As I continued to get more comfortable, I decided to also make a big investment in PepeCoin.
Participant #3 : BPCRYPTO
I got introduced to BasedAI by watching YouTube videos from Kyle Chasse, Fanzo, and Collin with The Value Thinker. At first, I didn’t understand it, but seeing how invested these smart people were made me curious. No other project has led me down such a rabbit hole of research, diving into white papers and wanting to learn more. I also frequently check the Telegram, live on X, and watch and rewatch as much content as I can find out there.
Participant #4 : 0x1ee7
My story goes back to November last year when I got very interested in decentralized AI after buying into Bittensor. I wanted to dig deeper and research into how it works because it was fascinating to me, it didn’t take me long to realize that the future of AI is decentralized, just like the future of finance. This was my main resource in understanding BasedAI later because it utilized very similar elements of Bittensor.
Sometime later in December I learned about the Pepecoin ecosystem and BasedAI was just a name back then. When the first few pages of the BasedAI whitepaper were first teased by the devs, I connected the dots using what I knew about Bittensor and realized how massive this was going to be. I remember asking Pr0m back then about why not just acquire a subnet on Bittensor and utilize the already existing architecture to push out BasedAI, but his answers were my reasons for doubling down on this team.
Question #2: What makes you most excited about the technology that underpins the Based L1 mainnet?
Participant #1 : Getzerod
The community-driven compute aspect of BasedAI is truly revolutionary. The concept of utilizing our idle GPUs to contribute to a decentralized network of AI brains opens up incredible possibilities. As an advocate for open-source and building in public, the ability to own and run node contracts for large language models is a significant advancement. It's not just about using AI; it's about being an integral part of the infrastructure that powers it, which is both challenging and exciting from a technical perspective.
Participant #2 : 0x7d54
BasedAI -- if the vision is indeed fully executed -- will be transformative for TWO industries: crypto and artificial intelligence. I think that very few people yet see the ultimate potential, here (or, some may be much more heavily discounting the risk than I am, which would be fair). Crypto offers mechanisms for decentralized compute, and we see that in a few places. This can be valuable for AI, but it is not transformative on its own. But then, on top of that, BasedAI brings full cryptographic privacy to decentralized AI compute, which is critical for a surprising number of applications either due to corporate competitiveness, national security, or for legal privacy reasons. This combination IS transformative. And on top of that, BasedAI will be fully smart contract enabled, leading to all sorts of innovative applications.
Participant #3 : BPCRYPTO
Instagram took two and a half years to reach 100 million users, ChatGPT did it in just two months. AI and technology are the future. The Based L1 mainnet is super exciting because it combines efficiency, security, and scalability in a way that really stands out in the blockchain and AI world. The technology, like Cerberus Squeezing along with FHE, is something people haven’t seen before, and this is something we can all be a part of. We have an advantage being in this project so early, even over some major corporations and companies. Imagine getting into ETH before it launched! We now have a chance to do so with BasedAI.
Participant #4 : 0x1ee7
There’s a lot of things to be excited about! The advanced encryption techniques, decentralized architecture, incentivized participation, the integration with blockchain and NFT’s, all of which come together into one unique piece of technology. If you’re a nerd like me, then you are probably already super excited when you see a whitepaper like this.
One thing that is less spoken about though is the meme marketplace, I can’t wait to see what comes out of it and I really hope it takes off. Memes are fun and a great way of onboarding people and I think this is a gateway to bring a lot of new friends to the community. A new opportunity to be early on something big.
Question #3: Will you be burning or staking for a Brain? What considerations have helped guide this decision for you?
Participant #1 : Getzerod
I'm definitely planning to burn for a brain. The potential benefits for my current work and my AI-focused LLC, which will hopefully be centered around BasedAI, are substantial. I aim to have ownership and control of a brain to select and run specific LLMs, leveraging it for my network of colleagues and businesses. While it's a significant investment with some inherent risks, I see it as an opportunity to be at the forefront of AI technology and contribute to shaping its future.
Participant #2 : 0x7d54
I'm gonna burn a big chunk of PepeCoin for brains. I think that fewer people will have the guts to burn big stacks on Day 0 than what is being anticipated, plus my own view is that folks are not yet bullish enough on the ecosystem as is warranted, so the time is now (or, on Day 0 lol) to make a big play. The burn (for brain credits) will be a tax event, so the exact amount I burn will depend on the price of PepeCoin at the moment (and how much capital gain I can afford to naked cover), but it will be a lot.
Participant #3 : BPCRYPTO
My current plan is to pool for Brains and stake towards different Brains. This way, I can own a percentage of a Brain without having to make big decisions or run anything. My long-term goal is to own a majority of a Brain or a full brain and make managing it my full time job.
Participant #4 : 0x1ee7
Probably both personally, it depends on how the burn portal queue will look like and how quickly I can get my hands on one. There is also a third option, buying one or more on the open market with ETH should any become available for sale and depending on what that premium would look like vs burning your pepecoins. I think many people with 100k pepecoins to spare will most likely stake for a brain since it’s only a 3-month commitment and gives them a chance to get their feet wet to play around with the ecosystem. The main consideration here is just about the most cost-effective route at the time and what is best for you.
Question #4: Any other thoughts you want to share about BasedAI, Brains, or anything else in the ecosystem?
Participant #1 : Getzerod
BasedAI represents a unique opportunity in the right place at the right time - something that can't be passed up for those interested in the future of AI and decentralized computing. I've purchased the hardware and am in the process of building an initial machine with two GeForce RTX 4090s this week, with plans to expand to support up to seven as capacity needs grow. I'm dedicating significant time to learning about running LLMs locally, fine-tuning, and training, especially with recent open-weight models like Llama 3.1 and Mistral Large 2. We simply can't leave it up to closed-source AI companies to pave the way into the future; their walled gardens and growing biases highlight the need for trustworthy, verifiable, and private AI sources that the people control. The ecosystem BasedAI is building isn't just about short-term gains; it's about creating a lasting infrastructure for trustless, decentralized AI compute, which is truly key for our future.
Participant #2 : 0x7d54
The potential here (in my biased opinion, of course!) is truly enormous, from both transformative technology and investment standpoints. BasedAI could readily become the third most valuable (sum PepeCoin + BasedAI mcaps) blockchain after Bitcoin and Ethereum... with each of those three ultimately being viewed as representing punctuated transformations in crypto.
Participant #3 : BPCRYPTO
BasedAI is an incredible project led by some trustworthy and experienced OG developers in the crypto space. They have consistently proven their capabilities. The ecosystem offers so many different exciting opportunities, combining the two strongest narratives in crypto: AI and memes. I believe they will, as they say, “dev their way to the top” and “not only flip Pepe, but flip the entire space.”
Participant #4 : 0x1ee7
I love how BasedAI is beautifully integrated with the OG 2016 pepecoin meme, yet at the same time they are separate. I am very excited to see how everything comes together once main net is live and all the talent that this L1 will attract. The team went through lengths to think of all the different scenarios and ensure that everyone has a chance to participate, it doesn't matter if you’re a whale or a small fish. I really love that they kept inclusivity in mind and made it as fair as possible. The biggest question I’ve seen that most people have in mind is “I only have xxx Pepecoins, can I still do etc etc?” The answer is yes, and it’s still worth it in the long run. You don’t really need any major investments to participate in the ecosystem, if you have a good GPU and rig, you can mine and earn $BASED.
Question #5: What advice would you give to newcomers of the BasedAI community?
Participant #1 : Getzerod
There's a lot of information to absorb, and it can be intimidating at first. Start with the white paper and documentation from PepeCoin, BasedAI, and BasedLang websites. Take your time and use AI tools to help break down complex topics if needed. Once you have a solid grasp of the core concepts, engage with the community in the Telegram channels. Don't hesitate to ask questions, but do your initial research - the community appreciates informed curiosity. While you're getting up to speed, start learning about hardware requirements, open-weight LLMs, and key concepts like inferencing and fine-tuning. The more you understand now, the better positioned you'll be when everything goes live. It's a commitment, but for those passionate about AI and decentralization, it's definitely worth the effort.
Participant #2 : 0x7d54
Believe in something, and then step up to contribute and help make it happen. When facilitated by the right team with the right tech approach (as is the case with PepeCoin and BasedAI), it is truly a win-win proposition and it will remind you why you're here in the first place. This space can be so special if you do more than only speculate and if you contribute to the right project(s).
Participant #3 : BPCRYPTO
For newcomers, my advice is to start by getting on X and following as many @Pepecoins community members as you can. Then, watch videos and read articles to get a feel for what BasedAI and Pepecoin are all about. Join the Telegram, and don’t be afraid to ask questions in the community and dive into the white papers if you’re curious. The more you explore, the more you’ll understand and appreciate what BasedAI has to offer!
Participant #4 : 0x1ee7
The team behind this project is the smartest and most talented that I have personally seen in this space, and you are in good hands in the long term. I think most newcomers to crypto are here because they like to see price go up and feel upset when it doesn’t, this isn't just specific to BasedAI but to this space as a whole. The best advice I could give to anyone new is increase your time horizon and don't look at price in the short term because it can very easily manipulate your emotions to act impulsively. As long as you understand what you hold and the potential this technology has, price will always follow value over time. Bet on teams and community, not the price.