The Dream of a Decentralized World Computer: Innovations and Challenges of the AO Network

Decentralization networks have long pursued the dream of a world computer, a vision that includes the ability to execute arbitrary code without trust and to be shared and used globally. Following Ethereum, several infrastructure projects have made attempts in this direction, among which the upcoming AO network is one of these attempts.

From a macro perspective, the composition of the "world computer" can be roughly divided into three parts: computation, access, and storage of data. A certain storage project has been playing the role of the "world hard drive," while the AO network (Actor Oriented) introduces general computing capabilities and provides smart contract functionality.

AO: Actor-based General Computing Network

Currently, mainstream decentralized computing platforms can be divided into two categories: smart contract platforms and general computing platforms. Smart contract platforms are represented by a well-known blockchain, where the network shares global state memory and reaches consensus on the computational processes that change the state. Because consensus requires a large amount of repeated computations, it is only used to handle high-value transactions at a high cost. General computing networks do not reach consensus on the computational process itself but instead verify the computation results based on the business and process the request order, without a shared state memory. This reduces costs and allows the network to expand into more areas of computation, with some computing power networks as representatives.

In addition, there are some projects that are based on the assumption of virtual machine security, integrating general computing with smart contracts. These networks only reach consensus on transaction order and verify computation results. Multiple state change computations are processed in parallel across network nodes, and the virtual machine of the computing environment ensures deterministic results, so as long as the transaction order is consistent, the final state will also remain consistent.

Such networks have low expansion costs due to not sharing state memory, allowing multiple tasks to be computed in parallel without affecting each other. These projects are usually based on the Actor programming model, and AO also belongs to this category. Under the Actor model, each computing unit is regarded as an independent agent processing transactions, and the computing units interact through communication. AO standardizes the message passing of Actors, realizing a Decentralization computing network.

Unlike traditional passively triggered smart contracts, the AO with a general-purpose computing Actor can achieve proactive operation of smart contracts through a time-based "cron" mechanism, such as a trading program that continuously monitors arbitrage opportunities.

The characteristics of the AO network make it very suitable for hosting AI Agents. It supports rapidly scalable Decentralization computing power, has large data storage capacity, adopts the Actor programming model, and possesses the ability to actively trigger transactions. In addition, AO also supports the integration of large AI models into smart contracts on the blockchain.

AO Network Features

The main difference between AO and smart contract networks is that AO does not reach consensus on the computation process, but rather on the order of transactions, and assumes that the execution results of the virtual machine are deterministic, thereby achieving consistency of the final state.

The AO network adopts a modular design, which offers a certain degree of flexibility. There are three basic units in the network: Scheduling Unit (SU), Computing Unit (CU), and Messenger Unit (MU). When a transaction is initiated, the MU receives the transaction, verifies the signature, and forwards it to the SU. The SU serves as a connection point between the AO and the blockchain, assisting the network in ordering the transaction sequence and uploading it to the blockchain to achieve consensus. The current consensus method is POA (Proof of Authority). Once the transaction order consensus is completed, tasks are assigned to the CU for specific computations, and the results are returned to the MU to be forwarded to the user.

The CU collection can be seen as a decentralized computing power network. Under a complete economic plan, CU nodes need to stake certain assets and compete based on computing performance, pricing, and other factors to provide computing power and earn profits. If a computational error occurs, the node will have its assets confiscated. This is a standard economic security mechanism.

Differences Between AO and Other Networks

As a general computing platform, the differences between AO and traditional smart contract platforms are evident. Some storage projects have also launched their own smart contract platforms, but these platforms typically adopt state consensus architecture, which may not provide the same experience as traditional smart contract platforms.

Compared to other decentralized computing networks, AO retains smart contract capabilities and maintains global state at the storage level. Architecturally, AO is most similar to a well-known project, both creating a paradigm of asynchronous computing blockchain networks.

However, the main difference between AO and this project lies in the way states are maintained. AO has a shared state layer, allowing anyone to reconstruct the entire network state through transaction order and state proofs. This enhances the network's Decentralization capabilities, but it may also limit the implementation of certain special privacy services.

In terms of economy and design, AO adopts a more open and flexible approach. It operates on a fair launch and permissionless basis, allowing participants to engage in competitive mining through staking. AO utilizes a modular design, enabling users to choose their preferred implementation of the virtual machine, which lowers the entry costs for developers.

However, AO may also face some challenges. For example, the lack of atomicity in cross-contract transactions under the Actor asynchronous model may hinder the development of DeFi applications. The new computing model also places higher demands on developers. In addition, the 4GB management limit of the wasm virtual machine under the AO architecture may prevent some complex models from being utilized.

Nevertheless, against the backdrop of rapid AI development, AO still has considerable potential. With technological advancements and the improvement of the ecosystem, AO is expected to play an important role in Decentralization computing and the AI field.