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The founder of DEX ShapeShift has launched a new AI platform that’s meant to be a safer and more neutral alternative to ChatGPT and Claude.
By Jeff Wilser|Edited by Nelson Wang
Updated Dec 10, 2024, 7:48 p.m. UTCPublished Dec 10, 2024, 3:18 p.m. UTC
“Crypto + AI” is personified by Erik Voorhees. His career has spanned the eras. In 2012, when Voorhees launched the blockchain-based gambling game “Satoshi Dice” — which once accounted for half of all Bitcoin transactions — he pioneered a novel use case for cryptocurrency.
The founder of the decentralized exchange ShapeShift is now applying the ethos of bitcoin to the next wave of AI, launching Venice.AI with the humble goal of “unfettered civilizational advancement.” In announcing Venice on May 10, Voorhees explained that the app is similar to ChatGPT or Claude but “without all the Orwellian stuff,” and that Venice doesn’t censor conversations or “inject bias, safetyism, or political propaganda.”
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Somewhat amazingly, Venice seemed to ship instantly. It’s now live, creates uncensored images, and is part of the open-source Morpheus network. And as Voorhees says, “You can use Venice even without an account, in less than five seconds, from anywhere on earth via desktop or mobile.”
This profile is part of CoinDesk’s Most Influential 2024 package. For all of this year’s nominees, click here.
Jeff Wilser is the author of 7 books including Alexander Hamilton’s Guide to Life, The Book of Joe: The Life, Wit, and (Sometimes Accidental) Wisdom of Joe Biden, and an Amazon Best Book of the Month in both Non-Fiction and Humor.
Jeff is a freelance journalist and content marketing writer with over 13 years of experience. His work has been published by The New York Times, New York magazine, Fast Company, GQ, Esquire, TIME, Conde Nast Traveler, Glamour, Cosmo, mental_floss, MTV, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, and Comstock’s Magazine. He covers a wide range of topics including travel, tech, business, history, dating and relationships, books, culture, blockchain, film, finance, productivity, psychology, and specializes in translating “geek to plain-talk.” His TV appearances have ranged from BBC News to the The View.
Jeff also has a strong business background. He began his career as a financial analyst for Intel Corporation, and spent 10 years providing data analysis and customer segmentation insights for a $200 million division of Scholastic Publishing. This makes him a good fit for corporate and business clients. His corporate clients range from Reebok to Kimpton Hotels to AARP.
Jeff is represented by Rob Weisbach Creative Management.
