Pi Network has unveiled a sweeping update to its developer platform, introducing AI-powered creation tools, staking features, and new discovery options aimed at expanding what builders and users can do inside the Pi ecosystem.
The revamped Pi App Studio transforms how developers interact with the network. Instead of navigating through multiple menus, creators can now access the studio directly from the desktop’s main toolbar. The highlight of the release is a new AI creation suite, which streamlines the process of designing apps and allows more freedom in customization and innovation.
Beyond developer convenience, Pi Network is trying to make the user experience more interactive. A new discovery hub encourages community members to explore applications, vote on their favorites, and even stake Pi to support the ones they believe have potential. Categorization tools have also been introduced so users can easily browse Pi’s expanding app catalog.
This push for innovation comes on the heels of several milestones in the project’s development roadmap. Earlier this month, the network opened decentralized trading and liquidity testing with a DEX and AMM on its Testnet—important steps toward enabling a full economic ecosystem. Pi also deployed a faster KYC verification process, addressing one of the biggest user concerns around token claiming.
Debate Over Pi’s Technical Direction
Despite the steady progress, some experts think Pi’s next phase should focus more on independence. Blockchain analyst Mr. Spock recently argued that while the network’s use of the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP) helped it scale efficiently, creating a homegrown protocol might have better reflected the project’s long-term vision.
According to him, using Stellar’s framework has led some to wrongly assume that Pi operates on Stellar’s blockchain. In reality, Pi only borrows the consensus mechanism, not the chain itself. “A custom protocol could have strengthened Pi’s position as a self-sustaining network,” Spock suggested, calling it a missed opportunity to reinforce the project’s technological identity.
Even so, signs of change are emerging. The network’s Protocol Version 23 update reportedly introduces significant efficiency upgrades, hinting that Pi may be evolving toward a more independent architecture.
At the same time, Pi’s partial overlap with Stellar technology could work to its advantage. With Stellar now part of the ERC-3643 Association, a regulatory alliance focused on compliant tokenization, Pi may eventually tap into new opportunities in the regulated digital asset sector.
