Ever wondered how artificial intelligence is sneaking into every corner of our digital lives, including the wild world of blockchain and meme tokens? In a recent clip from The Rollup podcast, Illia Polosukhin, co-founder of NEAR Protocol, drops some eye-opening thoughts on the "AI supercycle." If you're knee-deep in crypto or just dipping your toes into meme coins, this chat is a must-listen—it's like getting a sneak peek into the future where AI isn't just a buzzword, but the engine driving decentralized innovation.

Polosukhin, known in the crypto community as @ilblackdragon, joined hosts Andy and Robbie for a deep dive into NEAR's ambitious plans. The segment, presented as part of the AI Supercycle series powered by NEAR, kicks off with a provocative question: What happens when AI becomes our primary lens to the internet, replacing giants like Google and social media feeds?

His response? It's already happening—and has been for decades. "We're already seeing the internet through an AI lens for decades," Polosukhin explains calmly, leaning into the camera with that signature thoughtful vibe. He points out that AI isn't some shiny new toy; it's been baked into the foundations of tech behemoths from day one. Take Google, for instance—its core search algorithms have relied on machine learning since the early 2000s. And don't get him started on Facebook (now Meta): the endless scroll of your feed? That's pure AI magic, curating content based on what it thinks you'll click.

But here's where it gets spicy for us in the blockchain space. Polosukhin warns that as AI scales up, it'll amplify the challenges we've already got with billion-user platforms. Think privacy concerns, echo chambers, and algorithmic biases—they're not going away; they're getting supercharged. For NEAR, though, this isn't a doom-and-gloom scenario. It's an opportunity. The protocol, built for speed and scalability with its sharding tech (fancy talk for splitting the blockchain into efficient chunks to handle more transactions), is positioning itself as the go-to layer for AI-powered apps.

Imagine this: decentralized AI models running on NEAR, where your data stays yours, and meme token launches get smarter with predictive analytics. No more relying on centralized servers that could censor or crash—everything's on-chain, transparent, and meme-ready. Polosukhin emphasizes that NEAR's vision isn't about replacing the old guard but evolving it. "We already have these issues for billion-user companies, and AI will exaggerate that," he says, hinting at the need for blockchain's decentralized ethos to keep things in check.

For meme token traders and Web3 builders, this means big shifts ahead. AI could turbocharge token discovery—think algorithms spotting the next viral dog coin before it moons. Or, on the flip side, it could flood the market with hyper-targeted scams if we're not careful. NEAR's approach? Build tools that make AI accessible and verifiable, like their BOS (Blockchain Operating System) that lets devs deploy AI agents without the usual headaches.

If you're hooked, head over to The Rollup's X post for the full clip—it's just over two minutes, but it'll spark ideas that'll keep you up at night. And while you're at it, check out NEAR's latest updates on their official site to see how they're turning this vision into reality.

In the end, Polosukhin's message is clear: The AI supercycle isn't coming—it's here. For blockchain practitioners chasing the next big meme play or just leveling up their knowledge, NEAR's got the roadmap. What's your take? Drop a comment below if you're bullish on AI-blockchain mashups.