A showdown between Nirlin and Bunzz Audit put manual audits head-to-head against AI-assisted audits, showcasing the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. Web3 security auditing platforms play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity of smart contracts, which are self-executing digital agreements, by identifying vulnerabilities and mitigating risks. Some platforms utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their auditing processes, significantly speeding up and broadening the scope of audits. However, there are concerns about AI potentially missing critical vulnerabilities that a human auditor could catch.
The balance between AI efficiency and human expertise was tested in an audit challenge on X, where Nirlin, a respected Web3 security expert, competed against Bunzz Audit, an AI-assisted auditing platform. The “Audit Challenge” sparked discussions about the role of AI in the future of smart contract security.
It all started with a tweet from Bunzz Audit announcing the launch of their AI-assisted audit service to enhance vulnerability checks on smart contracts. Nirlin, a smart contract auditor, responded with skepticism about the effectiveness of AI in such audits.
In a bold move, Nirlin publicly challenged Bunzz Audit to an audit contest, igniting a viral debate on X. Bunzz Audit accepted the challenge, and with 0xDjango from Code4rena as the judge, the competition was set.
Nirlin selected the smart contract for the audit contest, having audited it previously as part of their regular duties. Bunzz Audit had two hours to complete their analysis. Despite the time discrepancy, valuable insights were gained from the results.
Bunzz Audit identified 43 vulnerabilities, showcasing its ability to scan for a wide range of issues. Nirlin’s manual audit, on the other hand, uncovered critical vulnerabilities missed by Bunzz Audit, providing actionable insights for risk mitigation. This highlighted the importance of choosing the right audit service based on specific needs.
Following the contest, Bunzz Audit invested in further research and development, resulting in a significant update to its AI engine. The use of OpenAI’s GPT-4o language model led to a threefold increase in processing speed, enhancing vulnerability detection capabilities.
The future of smart contract auditing looks promising with a potential collaboration between human expertise and AI. The Audit Challenge served as a captivating spectacle, demonstrating the strengths and limitations of both approaches. As AI technology progresses, the future of Web3 security will continue to evolve, shaping the landscape of digital security.