INSEAD

Foundations: AI in a Web3 World

INSEAD

Foundations: AI in a Web3 World

Douglas Heintzman
 Alisa Acosta
Don Tapscott

Instructors: Douglas Heintzman

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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 hours to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

4 hours to complete
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Compare Web1, Web2, and Web3 and explain how decentralization changes ownership, access, and user control.

  • Explain the six layers of the Web3-AI ecosystem and how they support decentralized applications and AI services.

  • Evaluate key synergies, challenges, and tradeoffs at the intersection of artificial intelligence and blockchain.

Details to know

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Recently updated!

October 2026

Assessments

5 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Generative AI and Web3 for Business Leaders Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
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There are 4 modules in this course

In this module, you’ll explore the evolution of the internet from Web1 to Web2 to Web3 and examine how decentralization reshapes digital experiences. You’ll learn how Web3 differs from earlier eras of the web in terms of information access, publishing, data ownership, and user control, and you’ll analyze the three levels of decentralization: value, infrastructure, and organizations. By the end of the module, you’ll be able to explain how these shifts contribute to a more open, equitable, and user-centric web.

What's included

2 videos1 reading2 assignments

In this module, you’ll explore the six layers of the Web3-AI ecosystem and examine how they work together to support decentralized applications and AI services. You’ll learn how decentralized infrastructure, data systems, foundational and domain-specific models, smart contracts, and user-facing applications each contribute to a more open, secure, and user-centric digital environment. By the end of the module, you’ll be able to explain how these layers interact to enable innovation across areas such as healthcare, finance, governance, and supply chain.

What's included

1 video1 reading1 assignment

In this module, you’ll explore how AI and blockchain complement one another in a Web3 environment, as well as the key challenges that come with combining these technologies. You’ll examine major synergies such as decentralized intelligence, trustworthy data, AI-enhanced smart contracts, privacy, transparency, and tokenized incentives, while also assessing important limitations related to data access, interoperability, computational demands, governance, and ethics. By the end of the module, you’ll be able to identify both the opportunities and the tradeoffs involved in building AI-enabled decentralized systems.

What's included

2 videos1 reading1 assignment

In this module, you’ll review the key concepts covered so far, including the evolution of the web from Web1 to Web3, the three levels of decentralization, the six layers of the Web3-AI ecosystem, and the major synergies and challenges at the intersection of AI and blockchain. The graded assignment will evaluate your understanding of these concepts and your ability to apply them to opportunities, tradeoffs, and emerging use cases in a Web3 world.

What's included

1 video1 assignment

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Instructors

Douglas Heintzman
INSEAD
2 Courses4,132 learners

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INSEAD

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