Introduction
In this episode of Side Chat, we sit down with Tseng Ko-Wei, IOTA's Asia Ecosystem Lead, to discuss:
- IOTA's mission to create a feeless distributed ledger
- How IOTA differs from traditional blockchains
- Ko-Wei's academic journey in quantum physics
- The looming question: Will future AI sustain humanity or treat us as pets?
From Community Enthusiast to Asia Ecosystem Lead
📍 00:56 Career Transition
Ko-Wei shares his evolution from being an IOTA community contributor to spearheading Asia's ecosystem development, emphasizing grassroots engagement in blockchain adoption.
IOTA’s Zero-Fee Ledger Technology
📍 08:49 Feeless Transactions
Unlike conventional blockchains burdened with gas fees, IOTA’s Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) structure enables:
👉 Discover how IOTA eliminates transaction costs
- Scalability for IoT micropayments
- Sustainable infrastructure for Web3 applications
📍 19:49 European vs. American Blockchain Philosophies
Comparative insights into how EU-based projects like IOTA prioritize:
| Factor | European Approach | U.S. Approach |
|------------------|----------------------|------------------|
| Regulation | Privacy-centric | Market-driven |
| Use Cases | Industrial IoT | Financial DeFi |
Quantum Physics & The Singularity
📍 28:44 Academic Inspirations
Ko-Wei reflects on studying quantum mechanics and how Ray Kurzweil’s The Singularity Is Near shaped his views on exponential tech growth.
📍 40:45 Quantum Computing’s Practical Applications
Beyond theoretical hype, quantum computers may revolutionize:
- Drug discovery via molecular simulation
- Logistics optimization through quantum annealing
📍 45:00 Will Quantum Break Encryption?
Debunking myths: While quantum threats exist, post-quantum cryptography (e.g., lattice-based algorithms) is already being deployed.
AI’s Future: Savior or Overlord?
📍 50:22 The Human-AI Dynamic
Provocative discussion on whether advanced AI will:
- Economic Enabler: Automate labor to fund universal basic income
- Pet Paradigm: Render humans obsolete, maintaining us as curiosities
👉 Explore AI’s role in future economies
FAQ Section
Q: How does IOTA achieve zero fees?
A: By replacing miners/validators with a decentralized node consensus on its Tangle network.
Q: Is quantum computing a threat to Bitcoin?
A: Not immediately—existing blockchain networks are upgrading defenses through quantum-resistant signatures.
Q: Could AI develop its own goals?
A: Ko-Wei argues goal alignment depends on how we program AI’s reward functions during training phases.
Final Thoughts
This dialogue bridges cutting-edge blockchain innovation with existential tech ethics, offering actionable insights for developers and futurists alike. Stay tuned to Side Chat for more deep dives!