Last updated 7 months ago
We aim to solve the lack of transparency and trust in AI models by using the Cardano blockchain for decentralized verification and audit tracking, ensuring model authenticity and trusted AI use.
We will build a platform on Cardano that allows AI model creators and auditors to register and verify models, enabling users to easily check audit authenticity and model trustworthiness.
This is the total amount allocated to ModelTrust: Decentralized AI Model Verification Framework.
Please provide your proposal title
ModelTrust: Decentralized AI Model Verification Framework
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
98000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
5
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
We aim to solve the lack of transparency and trust in AI models by using the Cardano blockchain for decentralized verification and audit tracking, ensuring model authenticity and trusted AI use.
Supporting links
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
No
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
No dependencies.
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
Yes
License and Additional Information
Our project will be fully open source throughout its lifecycle, with the code and smart contracts released under the MIT License. This ensures that all elements of the platform, including the smart contracts, front-end code, and documentation, are accessible to the public.
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
Authentication
Mention your open source license and describe your open source license rationale.
We chose the MIT License because it is one of the most permissive and widely adopted open-source licenses. It allows anyone to freely use, modify, and distribute our code, even for commercial purposes, as long as proper attribution is given. This makes it easy for developers, researchers, and projects to build on our work without legal or technical barriers.
How do you make sure your source code is accessible to the public from project start, and people are informed?
We are open-sourcing our project code on Github and will work on the Github repository throughout our project duration. By collecting all docuemntation, examples and code in a unified open-source repository we make it easy for interested community members to stay informed and find all necessary resources for the project.
How will you provide high quality documentation?
We ensure high-quality documentation by maintaining a clear README, inline comments, and step-by-step tutorials in our repo. README will be updated at each milestone to match delivered code. Our final milestone is fully focused on documentation, with comprehensive guides for smart contracts, frontend use, and system architecture.
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
Our proposed solution, ModelTrust, addresses the critical issue of trust and transparency in AI models by leveraging the decentralized and secure infrastructure of the Cardano blockchain. As AI models grow in usage across industries, concerns about the authenticity, integrity, and ethical behavior of these models are rising. Current systems lack a transparent and universally accessible way for users to verify whether an AI model has been audited or trusted by recognized authorities. We believe that blockchain, with its immutability and decentralized nature, is the ideal technology to solve this problem.
Our Approach:
Engagement and Impact:
Our project engages with several distinct groups:
Uniqueness of the Solution and Benefits for Cardano
Our solution is unique because it allows us to establish a decentralized root of trust for AI models. Unlike centralized solutions, our system will be fully decentralized, ensuring that no single entity can control or alter the records. This creates a higher level of trust in AI systems globally. Building this project on Cardano emphasizes Cardano’s strengths in scalability, security, and sustainability.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
ModelTrust will positively impact the Cardano community by driving adoption through a decentralized AI model verification platform, attracting new users such as AI developers, AI audit firms, and users. As we will deploy ModelTrust as part of the UnboundedMarket Platform we already have a first project that can leverage this open-source framework.
By using the Cardano blockchain, we will create a trusted environment for AI model authentication and audit transparency, showcasing Cardano’s strength in real-world applications. We will measure success through user feedback from the wider decentralized AI and Cardano community. Our outputs, including open-source code, and reports, that will be shared via GitHub and the UnboundedMarket social media platforms.
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?
Capability & Accountability
Our team comprises several team members with 5 to 10 years of experience in Machine Learning, Data Science, and Blockchain Technology, each with a track record of delivering successful AI and blockchain projects. To ensure the project's feasibility, we decided to use a phased development strategy that aligns with our milestones.
Open: Achievements and insights are shared with our community on a regular basis. Key results and components of our work are published and made available as open-source on GitHub, benefiting all Cardano users.
Transparent: Using clear documentation and academic rigor, we build trust and accountability. Whenever appropriate, we are happy to discuss our work with the community at top-tier blockchain and AI conferences around the globe.
Collaborative: Through collaboration with established industry-peers from our earlier blockchain ventures, we gain regular feedback to continuously improve and adjust where required.
By following these principles of openness, transparency, and collaboration, our team demonstrates its capacity not only to deliver a viable solution but also to foster community trust and engagement throughout the project’s lifecycle.
Milestone Title
Platform Architecture & Design
Milestone Outputs
A full technical design document for the ModelTrust platform. It will describe how AI models are registered on-chain, how audits are linked, and how users can check trust records. The report will include diagrams, flow descriptions, and details on smart contract setup.
Acceptance Criteria
The document must clearly explain model registration flow, audit entry flow, and verification process. It must include all technical steps for Cardano integration, with no missing parts, so that developers can start coding.
Evidence of Completion
A detailed technical report and diagrams published in a publicly accessible link in PDF file format.
Delivery Month
1
Cost
21560
Progress
20 %
Milestone Title
Smart Contract Development
Milestone Outputs
Smart contracts that allow registration of AI models on Cardano testnet. Includes audit entry functionality to link audits with registered models. Contracts handle metadata, ownership, and verification
Acceptance Criteria
Smart contracts deployed on Cardano Preprod testnet, supporting both model registration and audit linking. Users must be able to confirm via block explorer that transactions create immutable records - we will share transaction examples as proof
Evidence of Completion
Smart contract source code in GitHub, with public testnet addresses and transaction records showing successful model and audit entries.
Delivery Month
3
Cost
21560
Progress
50 %
Milestone Title
Basic Frontend Interface
Milestone Outputs
A working frontend where users can register AI models, add audits, and verify records. The interface will show registered models, audit history, and allow basic interactions with deployed smart contracts.
Acceptance Criteria
On testnet, users must be able to interact through the UI, register new models, add audit entries, and confirm that results are recorded on-chain. The interface must display entries clearly and match blockchain data
Evidence of Completion
Publicly available testnet frontend, with source code in GitHub and instructions for users to connect and test it.
Delivery Month
4
Cost
21560
Progress
90 %
Milestone Title
Final Close-out & Documentation
Milestone Outputs
Final close-out report and close-out video (following the official Catalyst guidelines). Complete documentation for smart contracts and the web interface, delivered through GitHub README and supporting transaction examples.
Acceptance Criteria
Close-out report and video submitted to Catalyst, summarizing work completed and lessons learned. GitHub repos must include clear documentation on contracts, frontend code, and how to run the platform
Evidence of Completion
Link to GitHub repo with documentation, close-out report, and close-out video accessible through Catalyst channels.
Delivery Month
5
Cost
33320
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
Platform Architecture and Design:
Resources: Technical Architect, Project Manager, Documentation and Whitepaper Creation
Cost 20,000 ADA: Technical Architect: 10,000 ADA, Project Manager: 5,000 ADA, Extermal Consultation: 3,000 ADA, Documentation and Whitepaper: 2,000 ADA
Smart Contract Development and Testing:
Resources: Blockchain Developer, first interface deployment
Cost 36,000 ADA: Smart Contract Development 18,000 ADA, Testing (unit and integration) 7,000 ADA, Internal Bug Bounty 3,000 ADA, Off-Chain Code 8,000 ADA
Frontend Development Resources:
Resources: Front-End Developer, Blockchain Developer, UI/UX Designer, Backend Developer, Hosting and Infrastructure
Cost 31,000 ADA: Front-End Development 14,000 ADA, Blockchain Integration: 7,000 ADA, UI/UX Designer: 5,000 ADA, Backend Developer: 3,000 ADA Hosting and Infrastructure: 2,000 ADA
Testnet Launch and Community Engagement:
Resources: Marketing and Outreach (Community Manager, content creation, PR), Hosting and Infrastructure (Testnet), Public Relations and Media Campaign (blog posts, social media), Frontend Developer (deployment of infrastructure), Ongoing Support and Maintenance
Cost: 8,000 ADA: Marketing and Outreach 2,000 ADA, Code Adjustments & Deployment and Infrastructure: 4,000 ADA, Maintenance and User Support: 2,000 ADA
Contingency and Miscellaneous Expenses:
Resources: Miscellaneous project costs (unforeseen expenses, extra development time)
Cost: 3,000 ADA
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
The cost of the project represents strong value for money as it aims to solve a critical issue - AI model transparency and audit verification - on a decentralized platform, leveraging Cardano’s strengths. The budget reflects competitive industry rates. By attracting AI developers, auditors, and users to the Cardano ecosystem, our project drives adoption and showcases Cardano’s real-world utility, delivering lasting value for the Cardano community.
Terms and Conditions:
Yes
We are a team that combines strong backgrounds in AI and blockchain development. Members have co-founded startups, contributed to DeFi protocols, and published AI conferences. Our experience spans several areas of machine learning and DeFi, with a focus on applying AI to real-world challenges. Together, we bring several years of blockchain development and AI research, aiming to drive innovation at the intersection of AI and blockchain.