Cardano Big Brain: An Open-source Decentralized Cardano LLM

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Nathaniel (decimalist) Minton

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Requested funds in ada

193500

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

4

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

We propose upgrading cDPT-1 to an open-source Cardano-specific LLM, hosted across decentralized nodes, providing developers with dynamic, real-time assistance & fostering Cardano growth.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

Yes

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

Cardano DePIN organizations

Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) such as Iagon, Dedium, etc. will host the nodes required for running and accessing the LLM, training and data processing, and connecting users to the decentralized LLM nodes through a seamless web-based experience. Ensuring decentralized hosting and scalability.

LLama3 Model by Hugging Face

A state-of-the-art LLM that will be fine-tuned and adapted for Cardano-specific content, enhancing natural language understanding for queries and information processing related to Cardano.

Iagon Storage Services

Iagon storage services will be used to house all raw and pre-processed data for training purposes.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

All outputs of Cardano Big Brain will be licensed under the MIT License, supporting community collaboration, transparency, and adoption. This includes the LLM model, training scripts, decentralized node configurations, and front-end code. The project will maintain its GitHub repository (https://github.com/Flux-Point-Studios/cardano-big-brain) for community contributions, issue tracking, and model improvement.

[METADATA] Horizons

AI

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Problem Perception:  

As Cardano continues to grow, developers face complexities navigating its protocols, tools, and evolving technologies. Current resources are often fragmented, leaving room for an improved, cohesive developer guide.

Solution Overview:  

Cardano Big Brain is a decentralized LLM-based assistant that will provide Cardano developers with a comprehensive, AI-driven resource. The LLM will be trained and hosted on a network of decentralized nodes, making it a highly available and scalable solution that empowers developers through quick, contextual responses to their queries.

Engagement and Target Users:  

• New Developers: Receive instant onboarding help and tool-specific guidance.
• Experienced Developers: Get quick references to advanced topics and Cardano updates.
• Cardano Community & Builders: Continuous support for projects, fostering innovation.

Impact Demonstration:  

• Metrics Tracking: Query volume, user engagement, and the rate of LLM-adopted developer contributions.
• User Feedback: Real-time feedback mechanisms integrated directly into the interface.
• Recognition Program: Acknowledge and reward developers who achieve breakthroughs using Cardano Big Brain.

Uniqueness of the Solution & Importance to Cardano:  

• Decentralization: The LLM will be hosted on decentralized nodes, aligned with Cardano's ethos of decentralization.
• Focused Content: The model will be highly specific to Cardano’s development, with content updates sourced from the community to remain current and accurate.
• Innovative Tech Stack: Utilizing LLM technology in a decentralized context sets this project apart, promoting open collaboration and knowledge sharing across the Cardano ecosystem.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

Value to Cardano Community:  

• Enhanced Developer Support: Developers can interact with Cardano Big Brain to receive help at any development stage.
• Growth & Collaboration: A larger, more empowered developer community will drive more projects, collaborations, and ecosystem growth.
• Efficient Resource Access: Developers will spend less time searching for resources and more time building innovative Cardano projects.

Measuring Impact:  

• Usage Metrics: Track number of queries, node uptime, and user sessions.
• Surveys & Feedback Mechanisms: Continuously collect developer feedback to refine Big Brain’s capabilities.
• Community Contributions: Monitor the number of codebases, projects, and updates influenced by Cardano Big Brain.

Sharing Outputs & Opportunities:  

• Open-Source Repository: Repository will be active and transparent, promoting continuous contributions and improvements.
• Community Engagement: Regular updates on social media, workshops, and webinars to educate and onboard developers to use Big Brain effectively.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Team Experience & Expertise:  

Nathaniel (decimalist) Minton, with a solid background in AI, decentralized applications, and developer tools, leads the strategic and technical execution.

Proven Track Record & Swift Delivery:

Our development philosophy revolves around agility and decisive action. The Cardano community can trust that we deliver on our promises with high-quality results and within set timelines. As a testament to this, our cDPT-1 Project Catalyst proposal from Fund12 is already nearing completion, just three months after its commencement. This rapid progress showcases our commitment to efficiency, precision, and timely delivery.

By leveraging our experience, technical expertise, and community-focused approach, we aim to bring "Cardano Big Brain" to life with the same speed, attention to detail, and dedication that have characterized our previous work.

Feasibility & Validation:  

1. LLM Testing: Early-phase fine-tuning of Llama3 on Cardano content with community feedback loops.
2. Node Scalability Tests: Evaluate decentralized nodes for availability and speed
3. Pilot Launch: Soft launch with select developers to collect real-world usage data and iterate

Trust & Fund Management:  

1. Transparent Budgeting & Escrow: Detailed breakdown of budget with release tied to milestones.
2. Regular Financial & Progress Reporting: Monthly community updates on finances and progress.
3. Clear Roadmap with Acceptance Criteria: Detailed milestones and deliverables to ensure transparency and accountability.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Decentralized Infrastructure Setup & Initial Model Deployment (Weeks 1-4)

A: Milestone Outputs

• Procurement & Setup of Compute Nodes: Acquire and configure three high-powered compute nodes with decentralized hosting capabilities for the initial deployment of the LLM.
• Node Networking & Decentralization Protocol: Establish communication and consensus protocols between nodes to ensure decentralized hosting of the LLM.
• Initial Model Deployment: Deploy a foundational LLM version (LLama3) on the nodes to confirm that the infrastructure can handle data distribution and query handling.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Nodes are fully operational, linked, and running the foundational model across a decentralized network.
• Successful data communication and query handling between nodes are validated without data loss or network bottlenecks.
• Deployment logs confirm seamless model installation and accessibility.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Node Setup & Configuration Logs: Detailed setup logs showing node specifications, configurations, and security protocols.
• Network Testing Results: Reports demonstrating decentralized query response times, network latency checks, and fault tolerance.
• Model Access Logs: Demonstrate successful access to the LLM via decentralized nodes.

Model Fine-Tuning, Knowledge Base Development & Community Feedback Integration (Weeks 5-8)

A: Milestone Outputs

• Fine-Tuning Llama3 for Cardano Context: Optimize the LLM for Cardano-specific queries by curating and training on a comprehensive dataset covering key aspects of Cardano development (e.g., Plutus, Marlowe, Cardano SDKs).
• Knowledge Base Integration: Establish a continually updating knowledge base by linking to repositories, documentation, SDKs, and other Cardano resources.
• Community Input & Dataset Validation: Engage with the Cardano developer community for feedback on initial model responses and content accuracy to refine LLM capabilities.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Fine-tuned LLM effectively handles a range of developer-focused Cardano queries with improved accuracy and contextual understanding.
• The knowledge base is actively linked to the LLM, ensuring real-time updates and seamless data retrieval.
• Initial user testing indicates positive feedback on the model’s Cardano-specific responsiveness and accuracy.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Model Fine-Tuning Logs: Documented training phases, parameter adjustments, and model accuracy benchmarks.
• Knowledge Base Report: An outline of the integrated resources, content structures, and data management strategies.
• Feedback & Iteration Summary: Collected user feedback from developer testing sessions and applied model improvements.

Front-end Development, Security Enhancements, & Scalability Testing (Weeks 9-12)

A: Milestone Outputs

• Front-end Development & User Experience Design: Create a user-friendly, responsive UI to connect users to the decentralized LLM nodes. Ensure easy navigation, quick query inputs, and clear output presentation.
• Security Protocol Implementation: Establish comprehensive security protocols, including input/output validation checks, prompt injection prevention, and access control mechanisms.
• Scalability & Stress Testing: Perform load tests to confirm that the decentralized nodes can handle concurrent users, query spikes, and large-scale data processing efficiently.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• Front-end Interface: A fully functional and interactive front-end interface that seamlessly connects with the LLM on the decentralized nodes.
• Security Compliance: The LLM passes security audits and stress tests, ensuring resilience against prompt injection, data leaks, and other vulnerabilities.
• Performance Optimization: The system is capable of handling a defined number of concurrent users (target metrics) without performance degradation or downtime.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• UI/UX Design Mockups & Codebase: Documented UI/UX wireframes, user journey workflows, and front-end source code.
• Security Audit Reports: Detailed analysis from security checks, vulnerability assessments, and resolutions.
• Scalability Testing Logs: Performance benchmarks, scalability metrics, and system stress test results.

Public Launch, Active Community Engagement, and Continuous Feedback Loop (Weeks 13-14)

A: Milestone Outputs

• Official Public Launch of Cardano Big Brain: Deploy the LLM to the public, ensuring stable access through the front-end interface and decentralized nodes.
• Community Engagement & Feedback Mechanisms: Implement feedback systems directly into the user interface, allowing developers to submit their experiences, report issues, and suggest enhancements in real-time.
• Workshops, Webinars & Onboarding Sessions: Host online events to educate the Cardano community about "Cardano Big Brain," its features, and how developers can leverage it in their projects.

B: Acceptance Criteria

• LLM Live & Stable: Cardano Big Brain is publicly accessible with stable node uptime and reliable query handling.
• Active Feedback Loop: Feedback mechanisms are live, and community input is being collected and acted upon for continuous improvement.
• Positive Community Reception: Launch events have high attendance, and initial feedback from developers indicates satisfaction and enthusiasm for the tool.

C: Evidence of Milestone Completion

• Public Access Documentation: URL to the live "Cardano Big Brain" service, along with official launch announcements and guides.
• Feedback Collection & Implementation Logs: Documentation of community feedback received and corresponding improvements or iterations.
• Event & Community Interaction Reports: Summaries of workshops, webinars, and community sessions, including attendance records, Q&A logs, and participant feedback.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Nathaniel (decimalist) Minton - Project Lead & AI Development  

Leads the model training, decentralized integration, and strategy.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Node Infrastructure Setup: 24,000₳  

Description: Procurement of at least three high-powered decentralized compute nodes.  

Justification: Essential for hosting, distributing, and maintaining LLM availability.

Model Training & Fine-Tuning: 96,000₳  

Description: Training costs for Llama3 standalone model, including computational power, storage, and data management.  

Justification: Creating a robust, context-aware AI assistant for Cardano.

Front-end Development & Integration: 25,500₳  

Description: Develop and deploy an accessible web-based interface for the LLM.  

Justification: Ensuring Cardano developers have a seamless experience using the assistant.

Marketing & Community Engagement: 18,000₳  

Description: Outreach, promotional content, workshops, and developer onboarding.  

Justification: Driving adoption and promoting "Cardano Big Brain" within the ecosystem.

Total Budget: 193,500₳

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

Answer:  

Cardano Big Brain brings unparalleled value through decentralized LLM hosting, community-driven content updates, and real-time assistance for developers. The budget ensures sustainable model development, decentralized hosting, and continuous support for an evolving Cardano ecosystem.

Key Benefits:  

• Empowers Developers: Provides real-time, accurate support for Cardano-specific development.
• Promotes Decentralization: Decentralized node hosting ensures scalable and community-governed infrastructure.
• Continuous Evolution: Open-source approach ensures the LLM grows with community contributions and updates.