DePAI (Decentralized Physical AI) is an emerging technology framework that combines AI agents, physical robotics, and decentralized infrastructure such as blockchain. It enables machines to think and act independently, own assets, transact value, and operate within transparent, trustless environments. Unlike traditional robotics or centralized AI systems, DePAI is designed to give machines autonomy, accountability, and the ability to interact directly with decentralized applications and smart contracts.
A typical DePAI ecosystem integrates three core components — AI agents that make intelligent decisions, physical devices (like robots or drones) interacting with the environment, and a blockchain layer that manages identity, ownership, and transactions. Together, they create a resilient, self-sustaining machine economy. The full DePAI stack can be broken down into seven layers: AI Agents, Robotics, Decentralized Data Streams, Spatial Intelligence, Infrastructure Networks, The Machine Economy, and DePAI DAOs — each layer working in sync to enable genuinely autonomous systems.