Ganesh Prasad Kumble - Hands-On Artificial Intelligence for Blockchain: Converging Blockchain and AI to build smart applications for new economies

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First published: July 2020

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We are at a pivotal point in the journey of human civilization. From hunting to agrarian to industrial revolutions, most of human advancement was functional. We primarily used our physical faculties and focused on developing, coping, and survival methods. But with the advent of the knowledge era, this is about to change exponentially. We are embarking on the grandest of discoveries. We're using our mind to understand its own working, to discover the commonness in all of us and the world, and to create a co-operative equilibrium in all our societal interactions. A journey where we move from episodic functional growth to constantly evolving networked learning. A model that maximizes the happiness quotient of society at large.

It is against this backdrop, we have technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and peer-to-peer networks taking shape. As the knowledge era progresses, technology is rapidly moving from a supporting cast to become the main actor in our lives. Lines between real and virtual are blurring at exponential rates. Human networks are rapidly being replaced by their digital look alike. Interactions are becoming the new value driver, opening up transformational opportunities for the society and enabling a new way of living. This is a paradigm shift. But, societal changes of this magnitude inherently increase the entropy and require a new framework for harnessing value from the change. A framework where the building blocks of new technology, their interplay, and the context of their connectedness is well understood and implemented. In this book, the author has connected the basics of the new technology, its usefulness, and the business context in an effective way to wean away from the noise of change and has clearly articulated the practical business benefits of the new model.

, Domain-Specific Applications of AI and Blockchain, provide a good foundational understanding of AI and blockchain, focused more on practical usability of the technology and the context of its usage. This approach allows readers, especially the beginners, to gently get into the topic without getting overwhelmed by the algorithmic and mathematical complexity of some components.

, Cryptocurrency and Artificial Intelligence, talks about cryptocurrencies, their role, and uses. It was interesting to read about how AI can de-risk some of the inherent challenges of cryptocurrencies and bring it closer to common use.

, Implementing DIApps, is an excellent example of how to connect IOT, blockchain, and AI to solve today's real-world problems. This application clearly demonstrates the power of these new technologies and how to combine them for effective value creation.

The author closes the book with , The Future of AI with Blockchain, on the future of blockchain and AI with specific opportunities in different industries. The chapter has multiple greenfield ideas for building practical solutions using blockchain and AI.

Whenever I met Ganesh, I have always enjoyed his insight, passion, and commitment to the craft. He has brought all of that to bear in this book with the goal of passing on his learnings to the new warriors entering this field. Practical Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain is an excellent book for students and working professionals who are planning to kickstart their career in Blockchain and AI and provides the right balance between theory and practice with clear guidance on how to build decentralized applications.

It is often said Knowledge is power. But it is most powerful when wielded correctly. In this book, Ganesh has shown how to wield the power of blockchain and AI to create maximum benefit for all.

I wish Ganesh Kumble all the best.

Anantha Krishnan

Founder & CEO

Aicumen Technologies Inc

Ganesh Prasad Kumble is an expert in emerging technologies and business strategy. He has co-founded, bootstrapped, and mentored several start-ups and initiatives across SaaS, e-commerce, IoT, Blockchain, and AI. He is a contributor to several open source projects, including Ethereum and IPFS. He authored