Remember the line from "Inception"—"An idea is like a virus, resilient and highly contagious." That’s a brilliant way to put it. Once such an idea takes root, it can change the entire landscape. In the current era of Web3 and AI integration, Walrus Protocol is just such an idea. It spreads like a virus, disrupting traditional data storage systems, awakening developers from the shackles of centralization, and redefining how the entire data world operates.

Now is the AI era, and data is no longer static documents. It’s like a living entity, supporting every iteration of deep learning models and generative applications. According to Gartner, by 2027, AI-related data will account for over 40% of the total global data. How big is that? Just imagine.

But here’s the problem. Centralized storage giants like Microsoft Azure and Alibaba Cloud seem to offer comprehensive services, but they hide underlying issues. Sky-high costs, constant risks of data leaks, layered restrictions from various censorship mechanisms, and user privacy that can be peeked at any time. It’s like the multi-layered dreams in Inception—appearances are prosperous, but beneath the surface lies endless control and confinement. Innovators’ ideas here are like being trapped in Limbo—freedom and creativity gradually eroded.

Walrus aims to break this cycle. Decentralized storage is not just a technical solution; it’s a philosophy—making data truly belong to its creators and users, not a centralized institution. For AI developers, this means lower costs, stronger privacy protections, and most importantly—the real control over their own data.