Bitcoin’s layer-2 solution network development company Lightning Labs unveiled a new set of tools for artificial intelligence (AI) to transact and hold Bitcoin.
On July 6, Lightning Labs announced the toolkit that enables artificial intelligence applications, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, to interact with the Bitcoin network to transmit, receive, and store cryptocurrency.
AI developers can distance themselves from conventional and often prohibitive payment rails, while pay-per-use AI models will be enabled on lightning.
Large language models (LLMs) are software applications modeled on large data sets to generate human-like responses to user prompts and perform other duties.
Lightning Labs stated that they are ecstatic about the new surge of innovation brought about by the most recent wave of LLM models.
Lightning Labs explained that the tools are based on the “L402 protocol” — a lightning-specific authentication mechanism. It also utilizes “Langchain,” a library to facilitate AI application operations.
The Lightning Labs team acknowledged that current LLMs lack native web-based payment mechanisms. It was asserted that AI application developers are forced to rely on old-fashioned payment methods, such as credit cards, with the added costs passed on to users.
“A new, rapidly expanding class of ‘organisms’ (intelligent LLM or AI Agents) cannot easily access fiat payment systems because they are not registered as ‘entities’ with any nation,” the report stated.
Kody Low, a developer at the community payments platform Fedi, discussed the interoperability of AI and BTC for payments on the Stack Sats podcast on July 6.
“With the tools we’re releasing today, developers will be able to build more accessible AI infrastructure for both humans and agents alike.”
According to data from the 1ML analytics portal for the Lightning Network, its current capacity is 5,432 BTC, or approximately $163.5 million.
Bitcoin Visuals reports that lightning channels have decreased over the past year, from approximately 80,000 in July 2022 to about 70,000.
