tl;dr
The Near Foundation is revolutionizing DAO governance with AI-powered 'digital twin' delegates that learn user preferences to boost participation and combat centralization.
**Near Foundation Unveils AI-Powered Delegates to Revolutionize DAO Governance**
The Near Foundation, a key player in the blockchain space, is pioneering a groundbreaking approach to address a persistent challenge in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs): low voter participation. By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), the foundation is developing “digital twin” delegates capable of voting on behalf of DAO members, aiming to transform governance processes and combat issues like centralization and ineffective decision-making.
**The Problem: Voter Apathy in DAOs**
DAOs, which rely on community-driven decision-making, often struggle with low participation rates, typically ranging between 15% and 25%. This apathy can lead to power consolidation, inefficient governance, and even vulnerabilities to attacks where malicious actors manipulate proposals. Lane Rettig, a researcher at the Near Foundation specializing in AI and governance, highlighted the urgency of the issue. “We’re trying to solve this voter apathy,” he said during an interview at the Token2049 conference in Singapore.
**AI-Driven Governance: The Vision**
The Near Foundation’s solution involves AI-powered delegates, or “digital twins,” designed to learn users’ preferences and act on their behalf during governance votes. These delegates would analyze interactions, voting history, and even messages on platforms like Telegram and Discord to understand user priorities. Rettig described the process as turning governance into a “math problem” that can be resolved “almost instantly.”
“When you switch this agent on, it gets to know you,” Rettig explained. “It learns your political preferences, the kind of projects you care about, and where you think funds should be allocated.” The goal, he added, is to create a system where users are “nudged” by their digital twin to engage with relevant proposals, effectively replacing human actors in many governance scenarios.
**Human Oversight: A Critical Safeguard**
While the vision is ambitious, Rettig emphasized that human input will remain integral. “I’m a firm believer that there should always be a human in the loop,” he said, noting that critical decisions—such as fund allocations or strategic shifts—require human judgment. The AI would act as a guide, suggesting votes based on user data but deferring final decisions to humans. “If it gets things wrong, that means there’s something wrong with the context,” he added.
**Training the AI: Learning from User Behavior**
Similar to how generative AI models like ChatGPT are trained, the delegates would learn through interactions. Users might undergo an interview process, and the AI would analyze past voting patterns and online activity. This approach aims to create a personalized governance experience, ensuring delegates align with users’ values and priorities.
**Broader Implications for Web3**
AI agents are already prevalent in the crypto space, used for tasks ranging from token launches to automated trading. The Near Foundation’s initiative represents a shift toward more proactive, user-centric governance. By reducing the burden of participation, the project could set a precedent for other protocols grappling with similar challenges.
**The Road Ahead**
While the AI governance overhaul is still in development, the Near Foundation’s approach signals a bold step toward scalable, equitable DAOs. As Rettig noted, the end goal is not just to increase participation but to create a system where technology and human oversight work in harmony. “This is our end game vision,” he said. “Replace all human actors with a digital twin, if you want to call it that.”
In an industry increasingly shaped by innovation, the Near Foundation’s AI delegates could redefine what it means to govern in the decentralized era.