People keep asking me about “AI coins.” The first time I heard the term, I actually laughed. What is that supposed to mean? A coin that thinks? A token that passes the Turing test?

Spoiler: no.

Most of these so-called AI coins are hype stacked on more hype. Crypto has always been quick to chase the next shiny word — DeFi, metaverse, gaming, meme, now AI. Slap it on the label, pump a little marketing, watch the speculators swarm. Rinse, repeat, disappear.

But here’s the thing — a few of them actually make sense. Not many. Maybe enough to count on one hand. And those are the ones worth paying attention to, even if most of the rest are destined for the scrap pile.

So what are they, really?

An “AI coin” isn’t magic. It’s usually just a blockchain project trying to plug into artificial intelligence somehow. That might mean:

• Renting out GPU power (since AI eats graphics cards for breakfast).

• Turning datasets into tokens that can be traded or licensed.

• Building networks where people can buy or sell AI services.

Simple ideas, really. Some useful, some ridiculous.

Where the hype ends and the real stuff starts

Let’s cut to the chase. Out of the mess, a few projects actually look like they have staying power.

Render (RNDR) is my favorite example. Imagine Airbnb, but instead of couches, you’re renting GPU cycles. Artists, animators, even AI developers who can’t afford expensive hardware can tap into the network. With GPUs in constant shortage, this one feels obvious.

Fetch.ai (FET) is trying something bigger — autonomous digital agents that can do business on your behalf. Negotiate a contract, optimize a supply chain, book a shipment… all without you lifting a finger. Sounds futuristic, but they’ve got real partners testing it.

Ocean Protocol (OCEAN) is about data. Everyone knows AI needs mountains of it, but nobody likes handing it over for free. Ocean wants to tokenize and trade datasets safely, giving people control and companies the fuel they need.

And then there’s Theta (THETA). Not really AI, more in the “creative crypto” bucket. It’s a decentralized network for video streaming and content delivery, with big names like Samsung and Sony already playing around with it. In a world drowning in video, Theta might actually matter.

Don’t forget the creative cousins

On the creative side, you’ve got platforms like Audius (music streaming without middlemen) and Verasity (ad fraud protection for video). Most of the NFT noise has died down, but these at least aim at problems that exist in the real world.

My take

Most AI/creative coins are hot air. No shame in saying it. But — and it’s a big but — I wouldn’t ignore the whole category either.

Because tucked between the scams and the marketing fluff, there’s the occasional project with teeth. GPU sharing? Data markets? Streaming without centralized gatekeepers? That’s not just hype — that’s interesting.

Will any of these actually survive the next five years? No clue. But if you want to understand the crypto world, you need to know they exist. And if you’re tempted to invest, keep your skepticism dialed up to eleven.

Because, trust me, most of these coins won’t think for you. They’re too busy thinking about your wallet.