Aptos Labs, the brainchild of former Facebook employees and the developer behind a layer 1 blockchain, is in the process of expanding its array of tools and services by harnessing Microsoft’s artificial intelligence technology. The genesis of the company’s layer 1 blockchain came from resurrecting Facebook’s shelved Diem project, which was previously known as Libra.

In response to a press release issued on Wednesday, Aptos has harnessed Microsoft’s robust infrastructure to introduce novel offerings that seamlessly amalgamate AI and blockchain technology. This venture includes the unveiling of a fresh chatbot, aptly named Aptos Assistant. This chatbot is designed to cater to user inquiries regarding the Aptos ecosystem, offering resources to developers who are actively constructing intelligent contracts and decentralized applications. Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service empowers this chatbot.

Mo Shaikh, CEO of Aptos Labs, expounded on the confluence of artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies, emphasizing their transformative impact on the evolution of the internet and society at large.

Aptos is also integrating its native programming language, Move, onto GitHub’s Copilot service. This AI programming tool will serve to bolster activities such as contract development, unit testing, formatting, and prover specifications.

The strategic fusion of Aptos Labs’ technological prowess and the capabilities of Microsoft’s Azure Open AI Service is aimed at democratizing blockchain utilization. This convergence seeks to facilitate smooth onboarding to Web3 and empower innovators in the creation of novel decentralized applications underpinned by AI.

Rashmi Misra, General Manager of AI and Emerging Technologies at Microsoft, emphasized the collaborative synergy, asserting that the partnership intends to bring blockchain-enabled financial services to fruition. This encompasses endeavors like asset tokenization, diversified payment options, and the exploration of central bank digital currencies, ultimately expanding the scope of blockchain’s applicability. Furthermore, Aptos plans to enhance network security by operating validator nodes on Microsoft Azure.

A representative from Aptos confirmed that the collaboration between Microsoft and Aptos Labs is deeply ingrained from inception. The collaborative effort involves Aptos Labs’ AI experts, Ph.D. professionals, and Web3 developers working closely with Microsoft’s AI team. Their combined efforts encompass model training, integration of AI technology into Aptos Assistant and GitHub elements, as well as forging resources for developers and enthusiasts seeking to gain insights into building upon the Aptos ecosystem.

The recent months have witnessed a rapid convergence of blockchain developers with AI technology, following the resounding success of tools like ChatGPT. Venture capitalists have also turned their attention toward AI, underscoring the pivotal role of AI integration in fundraising and the attraction of tech talent.