Building a User-Owned Data Treasury with Vana
Anna Kazlauskas and Art Abal, the co-founders of Vana, have set out to create a platform that allows users to “pool” their data and use it for generative AI model training. The idea is to give users more control over their personal data and allow them to benefit from its use. Vana aims to create a user-owned data treasury where individuals can aggregate their personal data in a non-custodial way. By doing so, users can own AI models and use their data across various AI applications.
The Vana API connects users’ personal data across different platforms, enabling developers to personalize their applications. With instant access to a user’s personalized AI model or underlying data, developers can create amazing personalized experiences right from the start. Vana wants to break down the barriers between walled gardens like Instagram, Facebook, and Google, allowing users to bring their personal data to any application.
To join Vana, users simply need to create an account and confirm their email. They can then attach data to a digital avatar and explore the apps built using Vana’s platform and data sets. This opens up a range of possibilities, from chatbots and interactive storybooks to unique profile generators for dating apps like Hinge.
Some may wonder why anyone would willingly share their personal information with a startup, especially in an era of increasing data privacy concerns. However, Vana emphasizes that its purpose is to help users reclaim control over their data. Users have the option to self-host their data rather than storing it on Vana’s servers. They can also decide how their data is shared with apps and developers. Since Vana generates revenue through monthly subscriptions and data transaction fees, the company has no incentive to exploit users’ personal data.
While Vana does not sell users’ data for generative AI model training, it does allow users to do so themselves. The company recently launched the Reddit Data DAO, a program that pools multiple users’ Reddit data and allows them to collectively decide how it is used. This initiative is a response to Reddit’s moves to commercialize data on its platform. However, Reddit has not been supportive of the DAO and has even banned Vana’s subreddit dedicated to discussing it.
The DAO currently has over 141,000 members, but it still has a long way to go before it could significantly impact Reddit’s data monetization. Additionally, there are challenges in fairly distributing payments to members. The current system awards cryptocurrency tokens based on Reddit karma, but this measure may not accurately reflect the value of contributions in smaller communities. There is also the issue of trust, as sharing cross-platform and demographic data would require users to trust Vana with their sensitive information.
It’s uncertain whether Vana’s DAO will reach critical mass or if grassroots attempts to assert control over data used for generative AI models will be successful. Other startups and vendors are also exploring ways to empower creators and compensate them for their data. The generative AI industry is highly competitive, making it difficult to find a solution that satisfies all parties involved. However, there is hope that someone will find a way or that policymakers will intervene to protect users’ data rights.