Artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain are poised to merge into a powerful technological force, according to Armando Pantoja, futurist and founder at Quant Index.

Speaking with Roundtable anchor, Rob Nelson, Pantoja outlined how the fusion of these technologies could redefine industries and spark widespread adoption in the years ahead.

"AI tokens [are] going to be a big driver of the narrative sometime middle of next year to late next year," said Pantoja. He emphasized that the AI buzz seen in stock markets is likely to spill over into blockchain, noting that blockchain’s strength as a secure, decentralized database lacks the intelligence needed for real-time decision-making. "Smart contracts even — they're not very smart," he said, highlighting the limitations of current blockchain systems and the potential AI has to address these gaps.

Pantoja explained that blockchain and AI together could form a "killer app," with AI providing the decision-making capabilities blockchain lacks. He added that integrating AI with blockchain could simplify access to resources like bank accounts, which AI systems currently struggle to manage autonomously. "The combination of AI and blockchain are going to be what everybody's going to be talking about next year," Pantoja said.

He pointed to initiatives like ASI (artificial superintelligence), a collective of tokens focusing on AI development, as key drivers of this trend. "Especially with AI models being tokenized," he said, predicting this would push the narrative well into 2025. Pantoja likened ignoring these advancements to rejecting the internet in the mid-1990s, a missed opportunity for those unwilling to adapt.

As Rob Nelson aptly summarized, those who fail to embrace these innovations risk being left behind. "You're going to be stuck back at the station," he said, underscoring the urgency of joining this transformative journey. Pantoja concurred, advising skeptics to "just accept it and move forward."