Zero-knowledge proofs have always seemed like a cool thing to me, but it wasn't until I saw Succinct's zk co-processor that I felt it connected to reality.
I imagine a scenario where an on-chain application needs to call an AI model for complex computations, such as risk prediction. This was previously impossible, as such large computations couldn't be run directly on-chain. But with Succinct, AI can run off-chain, package the results into a proof, and deliver it to the chain. This is all transparent to the user; the chain only needs to verify the proof.
This approach makes me think that there will be more combinations of 'on-chain + off-chain' in the future. Complex computations don't need to be crammed onto the chain; the chain only needs to verify. This is both efficient and secure.
Succinct feels to me like it's giving blockchain an 'external graphics card.' It expands the computational power of blockchain into areas that were previously unreachable.
