The AI Stack Edition #2:

Covering what's happening and what matters weekly from the DeAI stack: Compute, Data & Middleware, Model Creation and Incentivization, App Layer

Author

Joshua Howard
March 28, 2025

Had a wonderful time hosting the first ever Vested Soiree at ETH SF a few weeks ago!

I firmly believe DeAI x DePIN x DeSCI has three unique characteristics relative to the rest of crypto:

  1. The top net new builders coming into our space are coming in through those three verticals

  2. DeAI x DePIN (and I’d argue to a lesser degree but still relevant) DeSCI have the best chances at expanding Web3 TAM

  3. DeAI x DePIN make the best attempts in the space at solving the demand side challenge, especially DePIN. In some sub sectors like gaming, the demand side is backed into the DePIN network

So, brought top investors, builders, and LPs in my network together to talk about it, in person, in SF

Vibes were high, prepared questions ahead of time, and was geared to go. I maybe got two questions in and once everyone got to talking, I couldn't get back control of the convo

In planning the event, I thought the two things that mattered were who you bring in the room and what you talk about.

Turns out - as we all know intuitively the who you bring in the room matters a whole lot more, everything else takes care of itself. Again, something you know but glad to see it play out so vividly in person.

It was so good, people stood for about 20 minutes after the event ended, in the middle of the Harlequin in Union Square, not waiting on rides, not ordering food, but talking to each other, exchanging numbers, and standing there with their arms folded locked in laughing and in deep conversation. Imagine a big group of folks standing in the middle of a restaurant while waiters try to bring food by etc, that’s what happened

It turns out there’s a stickiness here, I'll be hosting this event at every major crypto conference globally - the goal is to consistently bring together premier builders, investors, and LPs across DeAI, DePIN, and DeSCI for deep in person convos, connection, and fellowship.

This week is the second week of The AI Stack, a weekly newsletter covering what's happening and what matters at each area of the Decentralized AI stack: Compute, Data and Middleware, Model & Incentivization Layer, and App/Consumer Layer

We're launching a few titles:

  • A longer form newsletter, The Frontier, for in depth thought pieces on all of DeAI, DePIN, and DeSCI

  • A flagship podcast by the same name, Vested

  • A flagship twitter spaces pitch competition and founder interview series

Learn more about this community, and engage with us further in the links at the end of this post.

Now, let's dive into this week's news:

Compute News:


Data & Middleware:

Model and Incentivization Layer

App, Consumer, and Agent Layer

Engage with us further

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