The update is described as turning Pi Network into a programmable Layer 1 blockchain (base blockchain network), while the node deadline has been extended to May 19.
Pi Network said Protocol 23 will go live on May 18, introducing native smart contracts (self-executing blockchain code) and decentralized applications (blockchain-based apps) on its network. The change is presented as making Pi Network a programmable Layer 1 blockchain (base blockchain network), a step that typically expands what developers can build directly on-chain. The announcement also said the node deadline has been pushed to May 19. In addition, Pi App Studio is adding AI-to-Pi app conversion from Claude and Codex, indicating new tooling aimed at helping users turn AI-generated code or prompts into Pi-native applications.