Blab Crypto
Ben Goertzel Pushes Open-Source AGI on a Decentralized Blockchain Network
Ben Goertzel, the computer scientist who popularised the term artificial general intelligence (AGI), has set a clear vision for the next generation of AI: the core code must stay free and open, and the system must run on a user‑owned blockchain.
In an interview on the On The Margin podcast, Goertzel made his stance crystal clear. “I don’t want to give up control of what I’m doing to venture capital firms… Because I think AGI is too important for that,” he said. He added, “I’m pretty adamant that the core AGI code doing the thinking should be free and open source.” He explained that open‑source alone is insufficient if only a handful of hyperscalers can host the data and compute required for AGI. “If the code is open but the data takes a server farm to store it and you need a hyperscaler server farm to use it, the fact that the code is open doesn’t help that much,” he noted.
Goertzel’s plan takes shape on SingularityNET, the blockchain platform he founded. The network’s utility token, AGIX, pays for AI services run by nodes that host the software. The project will shift toward a paid tier for businesses next year, “comparable to a Claude Pro or ChatGPT Pro but smarter,” while keeping the underlying AGI code open. The blockchain will remain hidden from the end user, who will simply interact with an AI service.
The broader context is the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (ASI), a 2024 partnership that merged the tokens of SingularityNET, Fetch.ai and Ocean Protocol into a single token, FET. Ocean Protocol exited the alliance in late 2025. The alliance’s goal was to create a unified, decentralized AI ecosystem that could support AGI development without a single corporate owner.
Goertzel has been vocal about the closed‑source trajectory of other major AI labs. He cited the litigation between Elon Musk and Sam Altman as evidence that OpenAI’s founding mission shifted quickly toward proprietary models. He also pointed to Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, who began with a closed‑source approach. “The closed path is simply easier: raise venture money, lock up the model, and steer toward an acquisition,” Goertzel said.
Despite the challenges, he believes the open‑source model is viable. He compared it to Linux and the internet, which are open, globally distributed, and still profitable. “Linux and the internet itself are proof points that something can be open source, globally decentralized, and can be the foundation for people still making a lot of money also,” he said.
Beyond economics, Goertzel frames AGI as a societal risk. He warned that a lack of understanding between the top and the bottom could widen inequality. “If there’s an understanding gap between how well people at the top and people at the bottom understand what’s happening with AGI, that understanding gap will exacerbate the rate of growth of inequality even worse,” he cautioned.
Goertzel’s roadmap includes the launch of a new agent, Omega Claw, within weeks. The agent will be downloadable and is intended to help users manage personal tasks and generate income. He also highlighted the emerging “agent economy,” where AI agents can transact on behalf of users. Other crypto builders, such as Concordium’s Varun Kabra and Para’s Nitya Subramanian, have spoken about agents that pay for services and handle financial transactions.
On a timeline, Goertzel estimates that human‑level AGI could arrive by 2029. He added that a 2027 arrival would not surprise him, nor would a 2030 date.
The current state of the project is that the first AGI‑enabled agent is slated for release, the paid tier for businesses is under development, and the ASI token merger remains in place after Ocean’s exit. No regulatory filings or court proceedings have been reported that would affect the project.
In summary, Ben Goertzel is pursuing an open‑source, decentralized AGI that runs on a blockchain network controlled by many users rather than a single corporation. The initiative is backed by SingularityNET’s AGIX token, the ASI’s FET token, and an upcoming paid tier for enterprises. The project’s next milestones include the Omega Claw agent launch and the rollout of the business‑grade AI service.
In an interview on the On The Margin podcast, Goertzel made his stance crystal clear. “I don’t want to give up control of what I’m doing to venture capital firms… Because I think AGI is too important for that,” he said. He added, “I’m pretty adamant that the core AGI code doing the thinking should be free and open source.” He explained that open‑source alone is insufficient if only a handful of hyperscalers can host the data and compute required for AGI. “If the code is open but the data takes a server farm to store it and you need a hyperscaler server farm to use it, the fact that the code is open doesn’t help that much,” he noted.
Goertzel’s plan takes shape on SingularityNET, the blockchain platform he founded. The network’s utility token, AGIX, pays for AI services run by nodes that host the software. The project will shift toward a paid tier for businesses next year, “comparable to a Claude Pro or ChatGPT Pro but smarter,” while keeping the underlying AGI code open. The blockchain will remain hidden from the end user, who will simply interact with an AI service.
The broader context is the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (ASI), a 2024 partnership that merged the tokens of SingularityNET, Fetch.ai and Ocean Protocol into a single token, FET. Ocean Protocol exited the alliance in late 2025. The alliance’s goal was to create a unified, decentralized AI ecosystem that could support AGI development without a single corporate owner.
Goertzel has been vocal about the closed‑source trajectory of other major AI labs. He cited the litigation between Elon Musk and Sam Altman as evidence that OpenAI’s founding mission shifted quickly toward proprietary models. He also pointed to Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, who began with a closed‑source approach. “The closed path is simply easier: raise venture money, lock up the model, and steer toward an acquisition,” Goertzel said.
Despite the challenges, he believes the open‑source model is viable. He compared it to Linux and the internet, which are open, globally distributed, and still profitable. “Linux and the internet itself are proof points that something can be open source, globally decentralized, and can be the foundation for people still making a lot of money also,” he said.
Beyond economics, Goertzel frames AGI as a societal risk. He warned that a lack of understanding between the top and the bottom could widen inequality. “If there’s an understanding gap between how well people at the top and people at the bottom understand what’s happening with AGI, that understanding gap will exacerbate the rate of growth of inequality even worse,” he cautioned.
Goertzel’s roadmap includes the launch of a new agent, Omega Claw, within weeks. The agent will be downloadable and is intended to help users manage personal tasks and generate income. He also highlighted the emerging “agent economy,” where AI agents can transact on behalf of users. Other crypto builders, such as Concordium’s Varun Kabra and Para’s Nitya Subramanian, have spoken about agents that pay for services and handle financial transactions.
On a timeline, Goertzel estimates that human‑level AGI could arrive by 2029. He added that a 2027 arrival would not surprise him, nor would a 2030 date.
The current state of the project is that the first AGI‑enabled agent is slated for release, the paid tier for businesses is under development, and the ASI token merger remains in place after Ocean’s exit. No regulatory filings or court proceedings have been reported that would affect the project.
In summary, Ben Goertzel is pursuing an open‑source, decentralized AGI that runs on a blockchain network controlled by many users rather than a single corporation. The initiative is backed by SingularityNET’s AGIX token, the ASI’s FET token, and an upcoming paid tier for enterprises. The project’s next milestones include the Omega Claw agent launch and the rollout of the business‑grade AI service.
