Live with CZ: YZi Labs bets on AI & a New Era of Data Ownership

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vana
@vanaMar 17, 2025

The Spaces brought together Art, the managing director of the Vanna Foundation, CZ, a prominent figure in the blockchain and AI space, and Anna Kazlowskus, co-founder of Vanna, to discuss the intersection of AI and blockchain, focusing on data ownership and sovereignty. The conversation covered the potential of AI and its parallels with blockchain, Easy Labs' investment thesis, the importance of data sovereignty, and the concept of data DAOs. The speakers emphasized the transformative impact of decentralized AI, the potential for user-owned AI models, and the long-term vision for Vanna. They also highlighted the importance of ethical data usage and the future role of decentralized finance in AI.

Summary of Twitter Spaces Recording

Discussion Overview

This Twitter Spaces session featured a dialogue between Art, the Managing Director of Vana Foundation, CZ (a prominent figure in blockchain and AI), and Anna Kazlowskus, Co-Creator of Vana. The conversation focused on data ownership, the intersection of AI and blockchain, and the burgeoning role of Vana in these domains. Questions from the audience were encouraged, with a focus on engaging discussions about digital sovereignty and the future of decentralized AI.

Key Topics Discussed

1. Intersection of AI and Blockchain

  • CZ's Perspective: CZ expressed excitement about AI, likening its current stage to the early days of blockchain. He highlighted AI's broader applications beyond financial transactions and its requirement for data, which aligns with initiatives like Vana that advocate data ownership.

2. Vana's Unique Proposition in AI and Web3

  • Art's Inquiry: Art queried what made Vana stand out in the Web3 space.
  • CZ's Response: Vana's strong founding team and product-market fit were significant factors. Vana's focus on data sovereignty and enabling user-owned AI aligns with broader technological shifts.

3. Founding Story of Vana

  • Anna Kazlowskus: Her journey began with curiosity about decentralized currencies and led to a passion for data ownership and AI. The founding story of Vana revolved around empowering users with their data to train AI models, thus enabling a novel economic marketplace.
  • Art's Addition: Art was driven by inefficiencies in data markets controlled by large brokers, impacting builders and users alike.

4. Data Ownership and Its Implications

  • Economic and Privacy Aspects: The importance of data ownership has increased with AI’s advancements, transforming from a privacy preference to a significant economic consideration.
  • Legal Aspects: CZ referenced the historical perspective that laws should protect oneself, property, and liberty, emphasizing data as digital property.

5. Vana's Vision and the Future of Data Dows

  • Anna's Vision for Vana: Vana's mission includes forming data Dows—pools of user data to train AI models—enabling users to leverage their data as an asset.
  • Technical Innovations: Developing programmatic data access to facilitate broad data utilization while maintaining privacy.

6. Ethical Dimensions of AI

  • Data's Influence on AI Models: Anna stressed that data dictates AI model insights, underscoring the societal implications of who controls AI training data.
  • CZ's Acknowledgment: Recognizes the need for ethical considerations in developing AI models.

7. Vana's Role in Decentralized AI

  • Vana as a Key Player: In five years, Vana aims to have a broad user base, combining multiple data sources to surpass current leading AI models.
  • Broader Impact: Decentralized AI and self-sovereign data could potentially onboard masses into Web3, advocating for both data and financial sovereignty.

Closing Remarks

  • CZ's Advisory Role: Joined as an advisor due to his interest in strong, visionary teams and the learning opportunities they present.
  • Community Engagement: Participants were encouraged to explore Vana's initiatives. CZ and Anna’s engagement with the community reflected a commitment to fostering digital sovereignty and innovative solutions in AI and Web3.

The session concluded with an invitation to Vana's ongoing events, emphasizing continued community interaction and exploration of Vana's cutting-edge technology.