Akamai launches first NFT artwork to visualize Internet activity

May 25, 2022 - Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), a global provider of solutions that enable and protect digital experiences and are trusted by enterprises around the world, today launched the first non-fungible token (NFT) artwork that can dynamically change based on Internet data. This NFT artwork uses data from the Akamai Intelligent Edge platform (a comprehensive view of global Internet activity) and can be visualized and changed in real time as Internet traffic changes and cyber attacks are launched. This NFT artwork will be auctioned through the Artano marketplace , and the final bidding time is 12:00 am PST (Pacific Standard Time) on June 24, 2022.

As the world's largest edge platform with 4,000 points of presence in nearly 900 cities, Akamai is in a unique position to map the entirety of Internet activity into a unique piece of digital art.

The 'Life in the Cyberspace' snapshot provides a real-time snapshot of our collective online activity - reflecting both the breadth of our digital experiences and the volatility of cyber threats

“Akamai is committed to supporting and protecting the endless possibilities of online life. What better way to reflect our core mission than with a photo of the Internet in action, which reflects our unique perspective on Internet activity shaped by the online lives of billions of people,” said Kim Salem-Jackson, Chief Marketing Officer at Akamai. “With this NFT, we hope to show new audiences the beautiful complexity of the Internet and how Akamai is helping to create a safer, more connected world.”

Akamai invited R. Luke DuBois, a renowned multidisciplinary artist who specializes in interpreting the intersection of art, culture, and technology, to interpret its massive data set. DuBois created this NFT as a work of art that can bring us visual and auditory enjoyment. By drawing on Akamai data sources and combining normal network activity (such as traffic generated by people checking news and streaming videos) and adversarial network activity (such as server denial of service attacks, phishing emails, and website attacks), the artwork reflects the multifaceted online whereabouts of people.

“Unpacking what the internet means to the world, the good and the bad, its sheer size and its limitless potential was challenging but also immediately inspiring,” said DuBois. “With such a rich dataset and advanced AI techniques, I created this artwork to reflect the fluidity of the internet and the human activity behind it.”

The NFT will be auctioned exclusively on the artist-friendly marketplace Artano, which runs on the Cardano blockchain. Akamai chose Cardano, a blockchain that promotes environmental sustainability. The blockchain uses a proof-of-stake mechanism, where capital costs come from stakeholders who hold tokens in the mechanism rather than hardware and electricity. The artwork will reflect a year's worth of internet data from Akamai's global platform, and its image will then evolve based on AI technology's predictions of internet activity.

In line with the company's goal of "creating a better life and enabling countless beautiful moments for countless people every day", all proceeds from the sale of this NFT will be donated to the Akamai Foundation. The Foundation will use the funds to support programs for the next generation of networked life, in order to provide equal opportunities for high-quality STEM education and attract diverse talent to the technology industry.