Pi Core Team’s AI Bet Ignites Firestorm—Why Pioneers Are Furious

When the Pi Core Team diverted resources into artificial intelligence, their mining community erupted. Here’s why the backlash could reshape this crypto project’s future.

The AI pivot that split the hive

Pioneers—Pi Network’s loyal user base—expected rewards for years of mobile mining. Instead, they got an AI side quest. No hard numbers were disclosed, but the shift felt like betrayal to early adopters banking on Pi’s original vision.

VC whispers vs. grassroots growls

Rumors swirled about Silicon Valley investors nudging the team toward hotter tech trends. Classic case of chasing shiny objects while your core product bleeds trust—ask any Web3 founder who’s tried (and failed) to ‘pivot to AI.’

Can Pi reconcile its two tribes?

The team now faces crypto’s oldest dilemma: please the bagholders or chase the next hype cycle. One thing’s certain—you can’t decentralize disappointment.

Pioneers Question the Effectiveness of Pi Core Team’s Strategy

OpenMind is a Silicon Valley company that focuses on software for humanoid robots.

The announcement of a $20 million investment marked a rare occasion where the Pi Core Team (PCT) was publicly mentioned in an investment deal. PCT appeared alongside other high-profile VCs in the industry, such as Coinbase Ventures and Black Dragon Capital.

1/ OpenMind is building the Android for robots, and a global system that allows machines to coordinate and communicate. We are backed by @PanteraCapital, @RibbitCap, HSG, @cbventures, @DCGco, @FactionVC, @anagramxyz, @blackdragon_vc, @Ambush, @PiCoreTeam, @topology_vc,… pic.twitter.com/ma0jkouwhH

Some pioneers view this as a positive development. They believe that PCT’s involvement in advanced technology projects helps elevate Pi’s profile in the broader tech community. This engagement could also lead to long-term partnerships, which they believe WOULD enhance the token’s future potential.

“It’s no surprise that strategic investments like these strengthen PI credibility, ecosystem vision, and tech expansion. While these investments do not have an immediate impact on Pioneers’ earnings or token price, they lay a positive foundation for the future,” The Times of PiNetwork said.

Earlier this year, PiCoreTeam launched the Pi Network Ventures Fund. The fund holds $100 million and aims to grow the Pi ecosystem. It focuses on three goals: increasing real-world use cases for Pi, attracting production workflows to the network, and integrating Pi into practical applications.

However, some Pioneers feel this new investment strays from those goals. They question whether PCT’s investment in OpenMind fits into that strategy or is simply a personal preference of the leadership.

At the same time, the PI token is struggling. Its price is trending toward new lows in August, and it has shown no positive reaction to the news.

“I see this ‘BREAKING’ news as something alarming. The two on top of the Pi project took money from the Pi project and invested it into some of their personal preferences rather than investing into integrations, developers, and new projects on Pi.” — the Pinetwork Members account on X said.

In a rare public appearance last May, Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis, founder of Pi Network, spoke about the future of AI and blockchain. Additionally, PCT launched the Pi App Studio, which leverages AI to let users—regardless of technical skill—create apps such as games or chatbots simply by inputting prompts.

These developments suggest that PCT is increasingly engaging with and applying AI technologies.

Still, Pi holders eagerly await more practical and impactful actions that could quickly drive up the value of the Pi coin. The gap between Pioneers’ high expectations and PCT’s slow, deliberate steps continues to fuel debate.