Etherscan, a widely utilized Ethereum blockchain explorer, has launched a new tool that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to assist users in understanding the source code of smart contracts. This tool, built on OpenAI’s AI technology, enables users to request explanations for the whole or parts of a smart contract’s source code. Additionally, users can access the “read” and “write” functions of a smart contract, which can help them make informed decisions about how to interact with them and explore potential uses in decentralized applications.
The surge in interest in AI, driven by the success of OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot, has led to a rush among blockchain and crypto companies to provide traders and developers with AI-based tools. For instance, last week, the crypto exchange Bybit integrated ChatGPT into its trading platform.
Etherscan has clarified that this tool is intended solely for informational purposes. Users are advised to validate the tool’s responses rather than relying on them exclusively for evidence or bug bounty submissions.
To use the Code Reader, as Etherscan’s tool is named, users must connect to OpenAI’s API and have adequate usage limits. An API, or application programming interface, facilitates communication and information sharing between two computer programs. Currently, Etherscan’s tool does not support conversation threads with the chatbot and can only be queried through single-use prompts.
