Nil Foundation Partners with Taceo to Boost Zero-Knowledge Machine Learning on Ethereum

Nil Foundation The Nil Foundation, a marketplace for zero-knowledge proofs, has partnered with a company specializing in solutions related to zero-knowledge technology. Taceo This collaboration is focused on establishing a reliable framework for validating Machine Learning (ML) models on Layer-1 blockchain platforms.

As decentralized applications (dApps) continue to grow, Taceo emphasizes that the ability to make decisions powered by ML over large datasets is becoming increasingly necessary. For these applications to function effectively and securely, it's crucial that ML models can be validated.

According to Taceo, fostering trustless ML utilization is vital for creating a more secure Web3 landscape. This involves proving not only the execution of ML tasks but also the authenticity of training datasets through the use of zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) integrated into Ethereum smart contracts.

Taceo believes that implementing this strategy diminishes the reliance on trust in transactions, which is foundational for developing secure ML-driven applications in fields like decentralized finance (DeFi) and health care.

Lowering the Technical Barrier

Proving the accurate execution of existing Neural Networks (NNs) to blockchain entities like Ethereum presents considerable challenges, particularly for sophisticated models akin to GPT. Furthermore, the creation of NN circuits often necessitates expertise in ZK technology, which restricts the potential developer base.

The organization plans to harness the LLVM compiler toolchain to directly produce circuits from pre-trained Neural Networks. The Low-Level Virtual Machine (LLVM) serves as an open-source framework and set of tools dedicated to enhancing and compiling programming languages.

One notable benefit of the zkLLVM is that it spares developers from having to recode models in specialized zero-knowledge programming languages.

Conversely, the Nil team is focused on creating a streamlined, user-friendly, and automated process for circuit compilation from mainstream programming languages such as C++ and Rust using the zkLLVM framework.

In January, Nil Foundation raised $22 million in a funding round led by Polychain Capital, achieving a valuation of $220 million.

Taceo expressed, 'Empowering a broader audience to develop zkApps—applications enriched with privacy-preserving features via ZKPs—should foster the emergence of innovative products and ideas.' blog post .

The zkLLVM Circuit Compiler

To merge Machine Learning with zero-knowledge technology, Nil is unveiling the zkLLVM Circuit Compiler. Unlike many other initiatives, Nil aims to tackle circuit engineering obstacles using zkLLVM, an adapted variant of LLVM. This method builds on the current LLVM toolkit to present a circuit compiler, which makes it easier for a larger group of developers to engage.

Taceo has highlighted that substantial research and engineering tasks remain to be addressed to meet their ambitious goals. The team anticipates rolling out the initial findings from the zkLLVM pipeline in the fourth quarter of this year.