YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) – Crypto pets are an emerging trend in the blockchain and NFT space, that combines AI technologies and digital ownership. So how did we end up here, right under John Connor’s intense gaze of disapproval? Here are more details on what’s going on in the world of virtual care and how the COVID-19 pandemic actually boosted the madness.
What the F*** Are Crypto Pets?
Crypto pets are a unique variety of weird. As mentioned they are based on NFT and AI technologies, combining the two to produce nauseatingly cute unicorns that require round-the-clock care, and digital dogs with a tailored personality.
If you’re not sufficiently creeped out by the Tamagochis of the 21st century, here comes more. In contrast to traditional online games where pets are confined to the game environment, NFT pets can exist independently in a user’s crypto wallet. This ownership model provides more control to the pet owner, similar (or not so similar) to real-world pet ownership.
Users can name their pets, and they are responsible for their care and well-being. There’s a diverse range of games and experiences within the crypto pet universe. For example, “Crabada” on the Avalanche blockchain lets players care for fighting crustaceans, while “Nyan Heroes” on the Solana network offers a Battle Royale Shooter game with cats and robots.
These games often integrate advanced technologies like AI, augmented reality, and extended reality(XR). Another example of the madness is The Digital Pets Company, a Web3 startup, which has launched AI-driven 3D digital dogs, also secured as NFTs.
These digital pets combine AI, extended reality (XR), and blockchain technologies to create a two-way emotional relationship with a virtual being across various virtual environments, apps, and games. Each digital dog is unique in its appearance and personality, powered by the startup’s proprietary PetOS technology.
Digital Dogs – Wierd AI Technology Usage
This crypto pet company creates lifelike interactions using voice, visual, and touch communication. This allows users to interact with their Digital Dogs similarly to how they would with physical pets, except it is NOTHING like having a real dog to hug, is it?
These interactions include giving them names, training them, and playing with them. Users can store the digital dogs and their characteristics as NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain, and link each NFT to an actual Digital Dog via PetOS.
Digital Dogs leverage AI technologies, such as natural language processing (NLP), image recognition, reinforcement learning, and conversational AI. These technologies mimic the cognitive abilities of pets and the ways humans interact with them. Also, users can take their Digital Dogs across different virtual environments in the metaverse.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on AI technology, accelerating its growth and adoption across various sectors. Here are some key insights:
AI As Post-Pandemic Loneliness Industry
The Pandemic had long-reaching implications that were not always obvious. But here is a perspective – the COVID-19 devastation and the sheer loneliness people experienced largely boosted AI technology.
For starters, the AI industry experienced strong hiring growth in 2020, despite the economic downturn in other sectors caused by the pandemic.
This trend was persistent globally, with total investment in AI technology-focused private companies growing by 40% from 2019 to 2020, significantly more than the 12% increase from 2018 to 2019. This growth in investment was particularly pronounced in sectors closely linked to COVID-19, like healthcare and pharmaceuticals.
Funding for AI technology-based startups increased by 9.3% from 2019, with the US remaining the largest private investment destination. The pandemic also influenced the way researchers deploy AI, necessitating changes in business processes and workforce reskilling.
2020 also marked a significant year for AI, as it accelerated its move from laboratory research to commercial and industrial applications, indicating a broader and more integrated role of AI in various sectors.
