This interview explores the work of Ctrl+Space Labs, a team focused on promoting ethical and inclusive technology. They discuss their project, ProvenAI, which tackles the important issue of recognizing content creators in the context of AI. The team explains the advantages of ProvenAI and their vision for the future of decentralized and privacy-focused internet technologies. They also cover collaborations with other TrustChain teams, their dedication to open-source solutions, and their future plans to improve educational access and AI compliance.
Can you briefly present your team?
Our team at Ctrl+Space Labs is passionate about accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge technology in a fair and inclusive manner. We are a diverse group consisting of Software Engineers, UI experts, and Data Scientists. Importantly, we are part of a vibrant tutors’ community in Greece with more than 80 tutors actively contributing. We organize seminars, coding boot camps, and create robust open-source software to operate and train AI agents. ProvenAI, our current project funded by TrustChain, builds on our extensive experience in educational technology and AI.
How did you come up with this project idea and what benefits will it bring to the end users?
From our extensive work in education, we noticed a significant issue emerging with the popularity of AI: as AI systems started providing answers directly, creators of educational content saw decreased traffic to their websites, losing the incentives to contribute knowledge freely online. Students and educators alike lacked transparency on where AI-generated answers originated, and content creators were not properly recognized. ProvenAI tackles this challenge by acknowledging content creators directly, linking back to original sources, and enabling provenance and data tracking. This creates a transparent environment where educators and knowledge providers can be fairly compensated for their contributions, motivating continuous production of valuable content.
How is TrustChain supporting your growth and what role does it play for the next steps in your development?
TrustChain has been instrumental in our development by connecting us with an exceptional community of innovators, facilitating collaboration, knowledge sharing, and providing access to specialized training in areas such as Human-Centered Design, business coaching, and legal compliance.
This holistic support accelerates our growth significantly, shaping the future trajectory of ProvenAI.
Why did you apply to the TrustChain call and has your vision changed since then?
We applied to TrustChain because we wanted to be part of a vibrant community that’s shaping the future of technology in Europe, focusing on Web3, interoperability standards and data sovereignty. As an SME committed to open-source solutions, TrustChain’s funding was essential for us to compete effectively against big-tech monopolies. This experience further strengthened our dedication to open-source software, and helped us envision an inclusive and collaborative environment where innovative solutions thrive together.
What is the most valuable takeout from the TrustChain project and why was the topic of the Open Call important to you/your team?
The most valuable aspect for us has been the vibrant and collaborative community created by TrustChain, where teams can openly share ideas and innovate together. The Open Call’s strong emphasis on user privacy and data governance resonated deeply with our commitment to developing open-source AI technologies that respect individual rights and empower communities. This made TrustChain the perfect environment for our project to grow and evolve.
Did you establish collaboration with any of the TrustChain teams or plan for any kind of synergies? If yes, what is the biggest potential in such collaborations?
Yes, we had valuable collaborations, particularly with the Walt.id team, who provided expertise in generating Verifiable IDs for our AI Agents, and with Creator Credentials, which offered tools to clearly identify content owners. The greatest potential of these collaborations is that by building on the open-source projects emerging from TrustChain Open Calls, we can achieve outcomes comparable to closed-source projects with significantly less effort. This directly enhances the competitiveness of our solutions and strengthens the innovation capabilities of EU member states as a whole.
What are your expectations regarding the TrustChain software ecosystem and its contribution to the NGI priority areas?
We believe the TrustChain software ecosystem will play a key role in advancing core areas important to the Next Generation Internet (NGI), especially around user privacy, decentralized data management, and giving individuals real control over their own data. The TrustChain community and its focus on user-centric technologies align perfectly with the broader goal of creating a safer, more transparent, and trustworthy internet. We see huge potential in leveraging these decentralized technologies to empower users and communities, fostering greater openness and fairness online.
What are the next steps for your team?
To new applicants, I’d emphasize that TrustChain genuinely prioritizes meaningful results and real innovation over bureaucracy. The team provides amazing support designed to foster growth and tangible outcomes, making it an excellent platform for passionate innovators committed to creating impactful solutions. It’s an ideal environment for collaboration, support, and real-world impact.
What is the message you would give to new and potential applicants to TrustChain Open Calls?
TrustChain provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with forward-thinking teams and access advanced blockchain technologies. For those passionate about decentralised solutions and data sovereignty, this is a great platform to scale your innovations and make a real impact.
