"NEAR AI & Coinbase Team Up to Make AI Free for 5.5 Billion Users"

NEAR AI and Coinbase have joined forces to launch the Open Agent Alliance (OAA), an initiative aimed at making AI services free and accessible to over 5.5 billion web users worldwide. The alliance, which includes a diverse range of member teams, is committed to creating an open, user-owned, and globally available AI ecosystem that fairly rewards contributors.

The OAA aims to deliver secure, open-source AI access by integrating payment systems, hosting infrastructure, and AI technology, while prioritizing user privacy and economic inclusivity. This collaborative effort seeks to address the growing demand for AI services among mobile users, ensuring that AI is accessible to everyone, regardless of their location or financial status.

Illia Polosukhin, Co-Founder of NEAR AI, emphasized the importance of this partnership: "As the global web continues to shift toward mobile users, we believe AI must be accessible to everyone. In partnership with leaders in hosting, privacy, and payments, we’re building a globally distributed network that can provide AI services securely, confidentially, and at no cost to end users."

The OAA framework includes end-to-end payment solutions, with Coinbase providing fiat-to-crypto pathways and NEAR AI enabling USDC conversions between Base and NEAR platforms. The infrastructure component features NEAR AI’s developer environment, Phala’s confidentiality integration, and high-performance GPU processing from Hyperbolic, Aethir, and Akash.

The alliance's ultimate goal is to create a decentralized AI ecosystem that empowers users, fosters innovation, and promotes economic inclusivity. By combining the strengths of various member teams, the OAA seeks to revolutionize the way AI services are delivered and consumed, ensuring that AI remains a powerful tool for all.