Blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) have long been combined to change the way people think about identity and verification. Between these innovations comes data that experts describe as the new oil—extracted, accumulated, refined, processed, and transformed into something useful.
While most blockchain and AI use cases are still in the experimental stage and success cannot yet be measured, applications are being developed that leverage users’ personal data to contribute to research into extending human lifespan.
Jasmine Smith, CEO of Web3-based health app Rejuve.AI, said in an interview with Cointelegraph at the recent Cardano Summit that crowdsourcing data from multiple sources can help accelerate longevity research. She explained that the current core data set is limited to Western populations. She explained:
“Being able to democratize this access and fill data gaps in places like Africa, Asia and the Middle East will give us a more complete understanding of human health and longevity and (enable) us to provide better recommendations… to Assist with their care.
☝日 #CardanoSummit2023 Already in a meeting!
Welcome to our booth and say hello to a member of our team! pic.twitter.com/Vl6qNqfxk5
— Rejuve.AI (@Rejuve_AI) November 3, 2023
Smith added that such measures are not intended to replace doctors and clinicians, but to aid their work.
“Open source development always creates better AI algorithms. We also have a section where people can contribute to our AI platform to perform multi-resolution simulations based on different factors,” she added.
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Rejuve.AI is a decentralized longevity research network that allows users to contribute personal health data to aging scientific research in exchange for rewards in the form of tokens, which can in turn be used for other products and services within the platform. Data collected from users will be used to develop advanced test kits such as genome sequencing, DNA methylation and biological age tests that are not available to the general population, Smith said.
Commenting on the initiative’s potential to dilute the perception of longevity research, Smith argued that people are “hard-wired to like to be rewarded,” adding:
“I think everyone wants to get something out of what they pay for, especially when it comes to health data. We wear smart watches and rings, and while we might see some cool little graphs on the app, we actually And didn’t get paid.”
The executive noted that this aspect of Web3 “could be very powerful,” emphasizing that the findings extend “well beyond the scope of the token.”
When asked about the philosophical arguments and unintended social consequences of extending human lifespan, Smith explained that the project is not forcing anyone to “live past 100.”
“It’s more about pushing the limits of science and technology and creating something not just for wealthy people, but for anyone who has the drive and motivation (to extend life),” Smith said. “It’s also not about imposing driver motivation on people who don’t already have that motivation.”
Smith said she doesn’t think artificial intelligence will completely replace humans. Instead, she believes the technology will not only make their jobs easier, but also give them more direct and detailed insight into a person’s value as an individual. She added:
“[Artificial intelligence]can definitely speed up workflows, make tracking easier, and be able to connect individuals more with their data contributions and the benefits that are actually generated by using their data for different initiatives and products.”
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