Ethereum's zkAPI Breaks AI's Paper Trail with Disposable API Keys

The Ethereum Foundation and Open Anonymity Project have launched zkAPI, a system that allows users to pay for AI and other metered services without attaching their billing identity to every request. The system uses zero-knowledge proofs and disposable API keys to separate the person paying from what they're buying. Live on Ethereum mainnet since October 1, zkAPI is designed to break the paper trail left by every AI API call.

The AI still sees the prompt, but the provider doesn't know who's making the request. However, anonymity can unravel elsewhere, and the AI provider can still see the prompt and responses. The system is designed to be used with AI models, but it could also be used with other services like blockchain RPC queries and VPN bandwidth.

According to the Ethereum Foundation, the system is experimental and still has some limitations. For example, users can leak their identity through IP data, and the AI provider can still see the prompt and responses. The system is designed to be used with disposable API keys, which live only in the user's device memory.