At the Devcon 8 conference, Vitalik Buterin stated that artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the landscape of security and privacy, outlined three scenarios for the technological future, and warned about the risks of hardware crypto wallets and manipulation on social media.

Three Future Scenarios and a Focus on Open Technologies

He described three possible trajectories: a slowdown in progress, concentration of power among large organizations, or catastrophe. As an alternative, Buterin highlighted open, decentralized, and verifiable technologies.

Hardware Wallets in Question and Caution on Social Media

According to him, hardware crypto wallets may not be secure: users are not always able to verify whether devices are transmitting private keys to malicious actors. He cautioned against buying cryptocurrency based on Twitter posts, where bots and manipulation are common, and identified decentralized platforms with user control as a solution.

AI as a "Second Brain" and Data Leak Risks

AI is becoming a "second brain" for humans; however, personal data may be sent to corporate servers, used to train models, or become a target for hackers.

ZK Proofs and Minimizing Data Collection

In Buterin's view, ZK proofs make it possible to verify information without disclosing personal data, and privacy should be a foundation for digital services, messengers, and social networks. He called for treating personal data as "toxic waste" and, where possible, not collecting it at all.