Employing Blockchain to Combat AI Misinformation

Two Lundquist College master of accounting students are shaking up the academic publishing world with their expertise on a timely topic: artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain.

Jordan Brewer and Dhru Patel are interested in the intersection of accounting technology, and how blockchain could help address some of the more concerning areas of AI.

"Navigating the Challenges of Generative Technologies: Proposing the Integration of Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain," is scheduled for publication in the journal Business Horizons and is coauthored with Alex Murray, Lundquist College assistant professor of management and advisor to Oregon Blockchain Group (a student club), along with Dennie Kim at the Darden School of Business at University of Virginia.

PhD student-professor co-publishing is relatively rare, and it is almost unheard of for students at the master level to publish, let alone on their first try and with no revisions requested.

In fact, the article is being fast-tracked for publication by Business Horizons because it addresses the modern topic of misinformation distribution, including deepfake videos, pictures, and text, Murray said.

In it, Dhru, Brewer, Murray and Kim propose a responsibility and transparency-centered solution involving blockchain, the online ledger system used for cryptocurrency and other transactions.

Specifically, the authors articulate how integrating blockchain ledgers into AI combats several of its current challenges including "hallucinations" linked to biases and hate speech. Their proposed solution would help promote factual information and accountability to help prevent misuse.

"In the absence of meaningful regulations on AI, we suggest ways in which a technological infrastructure built on blockchain can mitigate the detrimental effects of AI," Murray said.

In other words, integrating blockchain technology into AI enhances reliability and accountability, all while keeping people’s data private, Patel explained.

Brewer and Patel are members of Oregon Blockchain Group, a group formed to educate and empower students to learn about blockchain and other cutting-edge technologies. Patel serves as executive advisor, and Brewer is director of venture capital.

Both are on track to graduate in June 2024, with jobs lined up at public accounting firms. Jordan is headed to Deloitte in New York, and Dhru will join PWC in San Francisco.

Patel said he has been involved in the technology for some time. He was particularly interested in how integrating blockchain could positively impact the culture aspect of the world-changing technology of AI.

Brewer said the project has only accelerated his interest in the topic.

"I plan to continue to write, and keep these topics top of mind in the accounting industry," he said. "I'm interested in how research could turn toward enhancing human productivity rather than replacing it, and how we can make gains in our output as a society. Maybe the United States could earn enough GDP to erase our debt. If anything can enhance productivity to that level, I think it will be AI."

Up next for this highly productive crew is additional research, the idea for which came about as a result of the current line of inquiry.

"Many ideas came from this paper," Patel said.

One topic they are pursuing is how AI tools are being used—and influenced—by major industry players while the public is struggling to get an even footing as AI continues to quickly advance.

"Collective organization could overpower corporations," Patel said. "We are looking into creating incentive structures around that."

In the end, AI has the power to restructure the very ways we interact as a society, positively and negatively, Murray said.

"If powerful entities continue to have sway over the technology's advancement, we likely won't love the outcomes," Murray said. "Left on the current path—without the transparency verifiability, and decentralization of blockchain—AI will likely be used to automate and surveil, particularly by unscrupulous governments and organizations."

—AnneMarie K-S ’05, Lundquist College Communications