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Vitalik Buterin is arguing against a headlong rush toward AGI, proposing Ethereum as a coordination layer for privacy-preserving, user-controlled AI systems. Posted February 10, 2026 at 7:26 am EST. Vitalik Buterin is urging the tech world to rethink how artificial intelligence is built — and why. In a Monday post , the Ethereum co-founder argued that framing AI progress as a sprint toward artificial general intelligence misses the point and encourages reckless speed over thoughtful design. Instead of chasing ever-larger models, Vitalik called for AI systems built around privacy, transparency, and human control. He outlined a practical roadmap where Ethereum helps provide the “rails” for safer AI use. This story is an excerpt from the Unchained Daily newsletter . Subscribe here to get these updates in your email for free That includes tools that let people run AI locally on their own devices, ways to pay for AI services without handing over personal data, and systems that let users verify what an AI is actually doing rather than blindly trusting it. Vitalik also sees a role for Ethereum as a neutral coordination layer, where AI programs can pay each other, post deposits, or resolve disputes without relying on a single company. The goal, he wrote, is not faster AI at any cost, but technology that strengthens human agency, and avoids building systems we can’t control later.