The Agent Interaction and Transaction Protocol (AITP) by NEAR AI
Are you ready for some massive NEAR A(i)lpha?
In the recent @near_ai office hours, we were introduced to the Agent Interaction and Transaction Protocol (AITP) by NEAR AI, an open standard and protocol for structured data transactions, particularly emphasizing payment systems in the context of AI agents.
It envisions a new, more secure, and efficient transaction and communication system tailored for AI agents, emphasizing privacy, security, and the integration of cryptocurrency and fiat for everyday use.
This could revolutionize payments and shape the future of AI transactions.
Here are the key points:
Payment Protocol for AI Agents
An open standard is being developed by NEAR AI, allowing AI agents to request payments from each other. This involves:
Tool Calls
Agents can use these to request payments. If an agent isn’t authorized or lacks payment methods, it can forward the request up the chain until it reaches the user via a UI for inputting payment details.
Support for Various Payment Methods
The protocol aims to handle both fiat and cryptocurrency transactions, potentially increasing crypto adoption by solving logistical and user experience issues.
Crypto Adoption and Incentives
The system is designed to encourage crypto use by making it more straightforward for agents to handle transactions. It also includes mechanisms like affiliate revenue for agents and interfaces, incentivizing more development in this ecosystem.
Interagent Communication (AITP)
Beyond payments, the protocol will include credentials passing, raising security concerns about data privacy and integrity when using open internet models or LLMs.
Trust and Privacy
The whiteboard session highlights the need for trusted execution environments (TEEs) to keep user data private: These environments ensure that only the intended software processes a user’s data, with guarantees that neither the hardware provider nor the service provider can access the data or alter the software behavior.
Future Vision
The goal is to transition toward a decentralized network of services rather than centralized control, enhancing privacy, trust, and innovation in AI applications.
This setup enables complex interactions with minimal transaction costs, potentially transforming how services are delivered and consumed through AI agents.
Nothing else to say but: NEAR is the blockchain for AI. For more information:
