Decentralized AI blockchain OpenLedger has joined hands with Blockchain at Berkeley in the research and development of community-owned, transparent AI models. Blockchain at Berkeley is a student-led organization from the University of California , Berkeley, USA. It collaborates with OpenLedger on “a direct counter to the closed systems dominating today’s AI landscape,” said the press release shared with Cryptonews . The goal is to create an onchain foundation for transparent and specialized intelligence. At the same time, students building the AI models will have direct ownership over them and the related data. This approach, the teams claim, transforms the students’ and researchers’ role from passive observers to “active architects.” We are excited to announce our strategic partnership with Blockchain at Berkeley ( @CalBlockchain ), University of California, Berkeley. This alliance provides Berkeley's brightest minds with direct access to build and train domain-specific AI models on OpenLedger's decentralized… pic.twitter.com/LmBobWyItZ — Openledger Foundation (@OpenledgerFdn) June 17, 2025 That said, students and researchers will work to build and train domain-specific AI models on OpenLedger’s decentralized infrastructure. Furthermore, they will contribute verifiable, permissioned datasets, and experiment with innovative attribution frameworks, says the announcement. Moreover, to encourage all this, OpenLedger will offer grants for “standout model development and valuable data contributions.” The participating individuals will also be earning onchain rewards for their contributions. Meanwhile, the models they build will have immediate utility across industries, OpenLedger claims. “From decentralized finance and predictive healthcare to autonomous governance and smart cities, the collaboration focuses on high-impact sectors where accuracy, transparency, and public accountability aren’t optional, they’re mission-critical,” it says. You may also like: Why Decentralized Data Is Needed As AI Matures The artificial intelligence (AI) market is projected to reach $243.70 billion in 2025, reflecting the massive financial backing behind AI advancements. It is not surprising that major technology companies such as Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft plan to invest approximately $320 billion in AI this year.However, a growing concern lies in the billions being funneled into centralized, closed-source AI models controlled by a few dominant players.The Security and Ethical Risks of... Turning Decentralized AI Contributors Into Stakeholders OpenLedger says it aims to engage top universities in the decentralized AI space. Currently, the concerns are increasing over AI monopolies, while the regulators are focused on model transparency, OpenLedger says. Therefore, the collaboration with Berkley forms a basis for “open, ethical, and academically driven AI development” and “frameworks where every contribution is traceable, every model is explainable, and ownership flows back to the creators.” According to Ram, Core Contributor at OpenLedger, the partners are “rewriting the AI playbook.” They’re turning contributors into stakeholders. “Every model is accountable to the community that powers it,” Ram says. Our core contributor @Ramkumartweet sat with @kevinriedl_eth to discuss what's next in the AI space, what makes OpenLedger a chain purpose built for AI, the future of Proof of Attribution and much more Check out the full episode at the link below https://t.co/hS5ulis6yd — Openledger 𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗔 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥 (@OpenledgerHQ) June 18, 2025 Meanwhile, in mid-May, the team announced the launch of the OpenLedger Foundation . Its goal, it says, is to “oversee and ensure that the contributors, the people who are powering every AI model, are fairly recognized and rewarded for their efforts.” OpenLedger Foundation has seen over 1.1 million users already active on the testnet. OpenLedger is putting $25M worth of $OPEN behind builders through OpenCircle, an on-chain incubator for open, permissioned AI. If you’re a developer, researcher, or data contributor tired of black-box AI, this is your path forward. OpenCircle supports early builders on… — Openledger Foundation (@OpenledgerFdn) June 12, 2025 Earlier this month, the Foundation announced it would deploy $5 million in grants. This fund will support open-source developers, researchers, and entrepreneurs building AI apps in a decentralized way. The apps will “span everything from voice agents and autonomous video editors to vertical-specific language models and intelligent copilots,” it stated. You may also like: SingularityNET and Privado ID Establish First Decentralized AI Agent Trust Registry SingularityNET, a founding member of the Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) Alliance, has announced a strategic technical partnership with Privado ID (formerly Polygon ID) to launch the first decentralized AI Agent Trust Registry.Per the press release, SingularityNET will integrate Privado ID’s privacy-focused technology to enable the issuance of on-chain decentralized identifiers (DIDs) and verifiable credentials for AI Agents.This trust registry will be a communication layer for... The post OpenLedger and UC Berkeley Give Students Direct Ownership in Building Decentralized AI appeared first on Cryptonews .
