Two years ago, everyone was saying, "Whoever masters large models will master the future." But now? Models are everywhere, and what's truly holding things back are the less glamorous, gritty parts of the job—where does the data come from, how do we handle computing power, and can the demand be sustained? Only those who can solve these three problems are qualified to keep playing this game. Protocols like KITE, to put it plainly, are competing for a ticket to the second half of the AI race.

Everyone understands the traditional playbook: you contribute your data for free, the platform uses it to sell ads or collect subscription fees, and you don’t get a penny. This logic has been played out in Web2 for twenty years, and users have long gotten used to “being exploited for free without a say.” But the rules on-chain are different.

KITE breaks down the entire data production chain in great detail—those who collect raw data, those who clean and label it, those who provide computing power, those who develop models, and those who build applications. Every step can receive its corresponding reward through smart contracts. At first glance, it might seem like they’re making simple things complicated, but think about it: as the AI industry enters a battle for existing market share, whoever can attract reliable collaborators with a more refined distribution mechanism is more likely to get good data.

From another perspective, if you had a batch of high-quality data in a vertical field, would you hand it over to a platform that “can’t explain how profits are shared and gives you no say at all”? Obviously not. KITE’s token can be used both as a payment tool and for governance voting. This dual nature essentially gives participants a long-term expectation—you’re not just a worker, you can also become part of the rule-makers.