On-chain zero-knowledge machine learning: An overview and comparison

Zero-knowledge proofs introduce a mechanism to prove that certain computations were performed without revealing any underlying information and are used commonly in blockchain-based decentralized apps (dapps). This cryptographic technique addresses trust issues prevalent in blockchain applications, a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Vid Keršič, Sašo Karakatič, Muhamed Turkanović
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-11-01
Series:Journal of King Saud University: Computer and Information Sciences
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319157824002969
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Summary:Zero-knowledge proofs introduce a mechanism to prove that certain computations were performed without revealing any underlying information and are used commonly in blockchain-based decentralized apps (dapps). This cryptographic technique addresses trust issues prevalent in blockchain applications, and has now been adapted for machine learning (ML) services, known as Zero-Knowledge Machine Learning (ZKML). By leveraging the distributed nature of blockchains, this approach enhances the trustworthiness of ML deployments, and opens up new possibilities for privacy-preserving and robust ML applications within dapps. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the ZKML process and its critical components for verifying ML services on-chain. Furthermore, this paper explores how blockchain technology and smart contracts can offer verifiable, trustless proof that a specific ML model has been used correctly to perform inference, all without relying on a single trusted entity. Additionally, the paper compares and reviews existing frameworks for implementing ZKML in dapps, serving as a reference point for researchers interested in this emerging field.
ISSN:1319-1578