Erik Voorhees recently launched Venice AI, a privacy-focused generative AI chatbot, in response to the growing concerns surrounding privacy in the cryptocurrency and AI industries. Voorhees, the founder of ShapeShift cryptocurrency exchange, expressed worries about large tech companies gaining control over AI technologies, potentially leading to a dystopian future. He aims to provide users with open-source AI solutions as an alternative choice. Venice AI prioritizes user privacy by not storing user data or having access to user conversations. Instead, user input is sent through an encrypted proxy server to a decentralized GPU, ensuring security and anonymity.
ShapeShift transitioned into an open-source decentralized exchange in July 2021, with control transferred to the ShapeShift DAO following a battle with the SEC. Voorhees shifted his focus towards building a permissionless, decentralized AI model after complying with a cease-and-desist order. Venice AI’s model is designed to be substantially better than the current centralized companies storing user conversations tied to identities. Top AI players like Microsoft, Google, OpenAI, and Meta have promoted responsible AI practices, but Voorhees argues that once a company has access to user information, it cannot be trusted to delete it permanently.
While creating an account on Venice AI offers certain advantages, users can access additional features by subscribing to a Venice Pro account for $49 annually. Venice Pro provides unlimited text prompts, removes watermarks from generated images, and allows users to turn off Safe Mode for unrestricted image generation. Users holding the Morpheus token will be rewarded with a free Pro account indefinitely, and Venice AI is set to accept digital currencies for subscriptions in the future. The platform integrates with MetaMask wallets for a seamless experience.
Voorhees emphasizes the importance of Venice AI being on par with centralized companies in terms of performance to ensure user adoption. He acknowledges concerns regarding the platform’s performance on the decentralized Morpheus network and aims to address any challenges to enhance user experience. Users can store chat history locally in their browsers and delete it at any time without creating an account, ensuring maximum security and privacy. Venice AI offers users the ability to modify prompts, access additional features with a Pro account, and receive incentives for holding the Morpheus token, promoting a user-focused approach to AI technology.
