#495 Next-Gen Gaming: AI Agents, NFTs, and the Blockchain Frontier

In this episode, I sit down with Greg Marlin, the CTO of ZKcandy, to explore the evolving intersection of AI agents, blockchain infrastructure, NFTs, and the gaming world. We dive deep into how Greg is building seamless onboarding for Web3 gaming, how AI agents are redefining non-player characters and companions, and why encrypted AI agent NFTs might just be the future of user-owned digital experiences.Whether you’re a founder building in Web3, an investor watching the AI frontier, or just curious about where gaming is headed—this one’s packed with insights.💡 Key Takeaways • What AI agents actually are—and why they matter in gaming • The vision behind encrypted AI companion NFTs • How ZKcandy simplifies Web3 authentication and onboarding • Why composability and simplicity are keys to developer adoption • The role of blockchain in preserving ownership and memory in AI • Founder tips on staying resilient in a copycat-prone startup environment⸻🎧 What You’ll Learn • How AI agents will revolutionize NPCs and game companions • Why ERC-7662 is critical for privacy-first AI agents on-chain • Practical strategies for founders building in AI + gaming + blockchain • A preview of Raid Quest and ZKcandy’s upcoming game featuresAbout Greg MarlinGreg is a serial entrepreneur and technologist with a track record across SaaS, crypto, AI, and developer platforms. As the CTO of ZKCandy, a layer-2 blockchain built on the ZK Stack, he’s building tools that simplify Web3 onboarding for developers and gamers alike. Greg is also the author of ERC-7662, the emerging standard for encrypted AI agent NFTs.https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregmarlin/https://zkcandy.io/https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-7662⏱️ Episode Highlights00:00 – Intro01:00 – Greg’s journey from SaaS to AI to blockchain04:00 – Breaking down what an AI agent actually is09:30 – How AI companions will reshape gaming experiences13:00 – AI in “raid” environments and social quests15:00 – Addressing hallucinations and unpredictability in AI20:00 – What ERC-7662 is and why it matters for AI NFTs26:00 – Who owns your AI? How blockchain can protect user memory28:00 – Developer experience: Plug-and-play SDKs for Web3 games32:00 – Advice for founders building at the intersection of AI and gaming36:30 – Final thoughts + where to find Greg