How AI Agents Are Reshaping the Future of Web3? In-Depth Interview with Eliza Founder Shaw

Introduction

The AI Agent is gaining strong momentum in this round of the crypto cycle, and Shaw, the founder of ai16z and Eliza, has undoubtedly seized this trend. The ai16z he initiated is the first on-chain fund themed around AI Memes, with a market value exceeding $2.5 billion in just a few months, making it the largest AI DAO on Solana. The core of ai16z, ElizaOS, is a multi-agent simulation framework, occupying about 60% of the current market share in Web3 AI Agent development.

Although Shaw's remarks on social media often spark controversy, he has become a key figure in the crypto AI space. This article compiles a depth interview with Shaw, Delphi Digital co-founder Tom Shaughnessy, and Ejazz of 26 Crypto Capital, discussing important topics such as the practicality of AI Agents and future development directions.

Main Highlights

• The creation process of Eliza Labs and the rapid development of ai16z
• In-depth discussion of the technical details of the Eliza framework
• Analysis of proxy platforms and the transition from simple Bots to practical tools
• Discussion on token economics and value capture mechanisms
• Considerations for Cross-Chain Development and Blockchain Selection
• The vision of open-source AGI and the future outlook of AI agents

Entrepreneurial Experience and Journey in Asia

Shaw shared his entrepreneurial journey, from early open-source projects to later focusing on AI Agent research. He mentioned some setbacks, but has always been exploring new directions. Recently, he took a developer community trip in Asia, closely communicating with local developers and learning about many interesting projects.

Shaw specifically mentioned that he is very interested in integrating AI Agents into DeFi protocols, believing that this could become a killer application in the coming months.

Discussion on Use Cases and Practicality of AI Agent + DeFi Integration

Shaw believes that the three most promising types of agents are: agents that can help users make money, agents that can promote products to the right customers, and agents that can save users time. He encourages developers to go beyond simple reply bots and build truly meaningful applications.

In the DeFi space, Shaw mentioned some interesting applications under development, such as bots that automatically identify arbitrage opportunities and execute trades. He believes that DeFi is one of the areas where AI agents can play the most significant role, as there are many arbitrage opportunities, but many people do not know how to take advantage of them.

Shaw pointed out that large language models (LLM) are currently not suitable for direct trading, but are very valuable in transforming unstructured data into structured data. He mentioned a research project on a "trust market" aimed at analyzing trading recommendation information on social media.

Value of the Agent Framework and the Development Advantages of Eliza

Shaw emphasized that Eliza is not just a simple wrapper around ChatGPT, but a complete end-to-end solution. He pointed out that Eliza's advantages lie in its extensive functionality support and plugin system, which greatly lowers the barrier for developers.

Shaw believes that the choice of language is indeed very important. He explained why JavaScript and TypeScript were chosen as the main development languages for Eliza, pointing out the popularity and flexibility of these languages in the field of web development.

Regarding the features of the Eliza platform, Shaw introduced that developers can quickly launch a basic robot by simply downloading the code and modifying the role settings. The platform provides rich plugins and API support, greatly simplifying the development process.

The Vision of Open Source AGI and the Future of AI Agents

Shaw believes that open-source AGI( general artificial intelligence) may take the form of an internet composed of numerous agents. He points out that AGI does not need to possess all knowledge in advance, but can acquire the necessary information through API calls or by operating computers.

Regarding the role of cryptocurrency in achieving future innovations, Shaw emphasized two points: first, it provides a crowdfunding mechanism for projects; second, it can accurately capture people's emotional needs. He believes that the open-source auditability allows anyone capable to verify the authenticity of the project, and this transparency can guide capital to flow more efficiently towards genuinely promising opportunities.

Discussion on Token Economics and Value Capture Mechanisms

Shaw acknowledged that the tokenomics model of ai16z needs to continuously evolve. He stated that the current Launchpad is just an initial version and that they will seek more diversified profit methods in the future. Shaw mentioned that they are considering investing in technologies that can expand the overall ecological value and exploring new ways to enhance token value.

Shaw envisions that if tokens can accumulate real value, it can not only provide more funding support for project development but also promote the development of open-source frameworks, forming a positive cycle.

Exploring Cross-Chain Development and Blockchain Selection

Regarding the choice of which blockchain to develop AI agents on, Shaw stated that he has no particular preference. He believes that the best strategy is to cover all platforms, observe where users are, and then provide services there. Shaw pointed out that the differences between different blockchains have become increasingly small for users.

The Transition of Slop Bots to Utilities

Shaw predicts that we will soon enter a new phase where Agents will do surprising things. He believes that "Slop Agents" ( low-quality robots ) may not completely disappear, but in the future, we will see more Agents that have practical uses.

Shaw also mentioned that detailed information about the current architecture, models, and hosting locations of Agents is difficult to obtain, and this uncertainty itself is a product opportunity. He predicts that in the future, there may be platforms specifically dedicated to providing Agent certification and evaluation.

Overall, Shaw holds an optimistic view of the future of AI Agents in the Web3 space, believing that this technology will bring about revolutionary changes and reshape the entire industry's landscape.