The Cortexblockchain platform is an open-source, peer-to-peer, decentralized platform based on Ethereum that enables artificial intelligence (AI) models to be executed and uploaded over a distributed network. The Cortex platform aims to facilitate AI democratization, where models can be easily integrated into smart contracts and created into decentralized applications (DApps). Smart contracts are just like regular contracts; however, instead of being drafted on paper, these contracts run in the form of protocols on blockchain.

There was no known way to facilitate on-chain machine learning models efficiently and deterministically before the Cortex team. As a result, DApps, including machine learning models, used off-chain inferences, defeating the purpose of smart contracts. Corex aimed to resolve the problem with the Cortex Virtual Machine (which utilized the GPU rather than the CPU). The Cortex Virtual Machine (CVM) seeks to allow efficient machine learning on the Cortex blockchain. The platform enables machine learning models to be integrated into smart contracts and decentralized applications.  Furthermore, to create AI-enhanced DApps and smart contracts, developers use the popular language Solidity and off-the-shelf AI models.

Cortex has introduced a mechanism that incentivizes AI developers to store models on the blockchain. Blockchain developers have access to the best AI models available worldwide and can choose from them. Competition between AI model providers naturally leads to better and better AI models within the ecosystem.

According to the whitepaper, Cortex's ultimate goal is to become a better token supporting all AI models. To achieve this goal, Cortex 2.0 seeks to deliver a more comprehensive core technical architecture for on-chain AI integration in smart contracts and improved security and performance for the Cortex chain. The Cortex 2.0 implementation also seeks to emphasize the accuracy and privacy of on-chain AI inference results by implementing formal verification, trusted execution environments, and more.

Ziqi Chen and Jia Tian are the cofounders of the Cortex project. As SFTC's principal research scientist, Chen was responsible for developing a range of innovative technologies. Tian has worked at Baidu and Alibaba as the architect of large recommender systems.