Useful Proof of Work (UPoW)

What Is Useful Proof of Work (UPoW)?

Within a blockchain that UPoW powers, validators are known as Computors. Computors are backed by miners, often referred to as “AI miners”, that utilize AI models to solve intricate training tasks instead of conventional mathematical puzzles. 

PoW vs UPoW: What Makes Them So Different?

Proof of Work (PoW) is a consensus mechanism used in blockchain networks to validate transactions and secure the network. Essentially, PoW acts like a competitive puzzle-solving process among computers. Whenever someone intends to make a transaction on the network, their computer must solve a complex mathematical problem, known as a cryptographic hash puzzle. This process requires significant computational power and energy. The first computer (or miner) to solve the puzzle gets the right to add the transaction block to the blockchain. As a reward, the miner receives newly minted cryptocurrency and transaction fees. 

PoW is essential to the mining process of a cryptocurrency as it prevents any single entity from controlling the network and ensures decentralized security. 

UPoW, on the other hand, uses AI models to solve intricate tasks instead of conventional mathematical puzzles. The UPoW protocol directs computational power toward the training of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), contributing to advancements in machine learning.

Unlike traditional mining, which focuses on transaction validation, or block creation, UPoW prioritizes ranking Computors within each epoch—a one-week cycle. The more efficiently a Computor’s miner operates, the higher its ranking and potential rewards.

Core Technology & Methodology

UPoW operates by leveraging miners' computational resources to perform tasks directly related to the development of AI. The key components of this methodology include:

1. AI Training Tasks: Miners engage in training artificial neural networks that simulate human cognitive processes, thereby advancing AGI research.
2. CPU-Based Mining: Prioritising CPU over GPU or ASIC mining makes the process more accessible and cost-effective, encouraging broader participation.
3. Decentralized Validation: Qubic's network of ‘Computors’ validate the AI tasks performed by miners, ensuring they align with the network's objectives and maintain integrity.
4. Energy Efficiency: By redirecting energy towards productive AI tasks, UPoW significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with traditional PoW systems.

Applications and Impact

Blockchain Use Cases

By integrating AI development into the mining process, UPoW enhances the utility of the Qubic network. It enables advanced decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts that benefit from AI capabilities.

AI Development

Through the Aigarth initiative, a pioneering project that is being developed on top of the Qubic network that combines the field of AI and distributed computing to create a collective system for solving complex AI tasks, UPoW accelerates the creation of AGI, with potential applications across various industries, including healthcare, finance, and education.

Decentralization

UPoW ensures that the development of AGI remains decentralized, preventing monopolization by any single entity and promoting a democratic approach to AI advancement.

Environmental Benefits

By repurposing energy for productive tasks, UPoW addresses environmental concerns associated with traditional PoW, contributing to more sustainable blockchain practices.

Potential Impact on Blockchain and AI Adoption

UPoW serves as a bridge between blockchain technology and AI development, offering several advantages, such as better blockchain utility, democratized AI development, and sustainable innovation.

Why Develop AGI Onchain?

In the past couple of years, AI has become a transformative force in the world, having the ability to reshape how we work, communicate, and interact with technology. However, developing AGI demands vast computational power and extensive training, which centralized models often struggle to accommodate, leading to bottlenecks and concentration of control within a few organizations. 

UPoW aims to address these challenges by utilizing a global network of miners to drive AGI development. By distributing the computational workload across the network, 

Useful Proof of Work (UPoW) is a mechanism introduced by Qubic that redefines blockchain mining. Unlike traditional Proof of Work (PoW), which consumes energy on solving arbitrary puzzles, UPoW channels computational power into training artificial intelligence (AI). This approach contributes to the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), aligning energy expenditure with meaningful, real-world applications.

About Author:

Qubic is a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain that integrates artificial intelligence to revolutionise decentralised technology. Utilising its unique Useful Proof of Work (UPoW) mechanism, Qubic transforms traditional mining by directing computational power towards training artificial neural networks, contributing to the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). The Qubic network runs directly on hardware, without the need for operating systems or virtual networks, and has many standout features, such as: feeless transactions, instant finality, and the execution of smart contracts at unprecedented speeds. Founded by Sergey Ivancheglo, the innovator behind NXT and co-founder of IOTA, Qubic is committed to open-source development and community-driven innovation, aiming to democratise access to advanced AI and redefine the future of blockchain technology.