18th Jun 2024 Gemini 1.5 Pro
This markdown document summarizes a podcast episode featuring the organizers of the Funding the Commons and Earth Commons events. The episode explores the intersection of open source technology, climate action, and public goods funding.
Organizers Ori Ayodele, Beth McCarthy, and David Casey discuss the genesis of the joint event. Ayodele explains the transition of the Sustainable Blockchain Summit to Earth Commons, highlighting the shared focus on public goods with Funding the Commons.
And for me and the rest of the team, like the Earth is the biggest public good. So that's sort of how SBS, Sustainable Blockchain Summit turned into Earth Commons, which has now aligned with funding the Commons.
McCarthy emphasizes the value of bringing diverse perspectives together, noting the event's success in blending the open-source and climate communities. Casey, an Oakland native, reflects on the joy of uniting these groups in his hometown and witnessing the unexpected connections formed between them.
The organizers share observations from the events. Ayodele highlights the presence of individuals working directly with indigenous communities and the impact of their stories. This marks a shift from past conferences, which leaned heavily on technology. McCarthy notes the stark contrast between funding landscapes in the US and Europe, emphasizing the ongoing struggle for adequate funding in the arts, culture, and science. She underscores the value of the event in showcasing practical solutions and fostering resource allocation as a collective endeavor.
So often the discussion would come down to there's just this problem, what do we do about it? And so actually having some solutions to that be at least piloted and experimented and shared from those who have figured that out.
Casey emphasizes the shared values and philosophies between the open-source and climate communities, recognizing the common goal of supporting public goods and commons. He sees the event as a pioneering experiment in bridging these two groups.
The conversation shifts to funding models and their influence on project trajectories. The speakers cite Jimo, a grant recipient from Filecoin Green, as a successful example of an entrepreneurial project thriving without traditional VC funding. They explore the liberating effect of grant funding on incentive structures, allowing projects to prioritize their core missions.
What does it mean to accept money that only focuses on what they're really passionate about? It completely changes sort of the trajectory of the project.
Casey emphasizes the importance of exploring non-extractive funding mechanisms and highlights Gitcoin and Near Protocol's Potlock initiative as positive examples.
The episode delves into the role of AI and data commons. McCarthy explains the importance of digital public goods and uses AI as a tangible example. She highlights the collective nature of data used to train AI models and the implications for public access and ownership.
And I think AI is also a really, um, tangible example for people because, you know, models are being fed on everyone's data. And then, you know, that these tools that at least for now are open to everyone like chat GPT, that then the public has widely adopted.
Casey discusses the debate within the AI community regarding open-sourcing AI models, touching upon the potential risks and the need to balance safety with accessibility. He raises concerns about centralized control of AI, emphasizing the need for safeguards and a future where these powerful tools benefit all of humanity.
The speakers then discuss Protocol Labs' role in fostering open-source technologies, highlighting IPFS and libp2p as examples of successful public goods. They explain Protocol Labs' unique approach to incubation and spin-offs, allowing projects to evolve organically while maintaining a shared ethos.
The episode concludes with a look at upcoming events and initiatives. The organizers announce a global roadshow for Funding the Commons, with stops in Tokyo, Southeast Asia, and Bangkok. They also discuss plans for funding experiments, including a retroactive public goods funding round and a refugee initiative aimed at providing financial education and income opportunities using crypto and blockchain technology.
And we just announced yesterday that we are launching a refugee initiative to support refugees around the world with... education on basic financial services using crypto and ways to earn a basic income using crypto and blockchain.
The episode reflects the dynamic and evolving nature of the Funding the Commons and Earth Commons events. By bringing together diverse communities and fostering collaboration, these gatherings aim to find innovative solutions for funding public goods and creating a more equitable and regenerative future.
Airtable