Original Title: Blockchain Innovation Will Put an AI-Powered Internet Back Into Users’ Hands
Author: Chris Dixon, founding partner at a16z Crypto
Translated by: Halesman, ChainCatcher
Apocalyptists are wrong. Artificial intelligence will not destroy the world—but it will destroy the internet as we know it.
Artificial intelligence has disrupted the economic contracts of the internet that have existed since the advent of search: a few companies (primarily Google) bring the demand, while creators provide the supply (and earn some ad revenue or recognition). AI tools have generated and summarized content, eliminating the need for users to click into content provider websites, thus breaking the balance.
Meanwhile, the proliferation of AI-driven deepfakes and bots will make us question what is real and reduce people's trust in the online world. With the advent of the AI era, large tech companies capable of handling massive amounts of data and computational power will continue to invest in artificial intelligence, and these companies, reliant on monopolistic resources, will become even more powerful, making the already closed-off remnants of the internet even more so.
Technological advancement is inevitable. I call attention to this not to shout that the sky is falling or to hinder progress. We need to help individual users gain some control over their digital lives. Thoughtful government regulation may help, but it often slows innovation. Trying a one-size-fits-all solution may create as many problems as it solves. And let's face it, users will not give up their online lives.
Major technological movements often advance simultaneously—think of the rise of social media, cloud computing, and mobile computing in the 21st century. This time is no different: artificial intelligence needs blockchain-supported computing.
Why? First, blockchain can enforce ownership. Blockchain can make credible commitments regarding property, spending, and power. A decentralized computer network (not large companies or other centralized intermediaries) verifies transactions, ensuring that rules and records cannot be changed without consensus. Smart contracts automate and enforce these ownerships, creating a system that ensures transparency, security, and trust, allowing users complete control and ownership of their digital lives. For creators, this means they can decide how others (including AI systems) can use their works.
Another fundamental ownership that blockchain can enforce is identity. If your identity is what you claim it to be, you can sign a cryptographic statement to prove it. We can carry our identities online without relying on third parties. On-chain identities can also help distinguish real users from bots and impersonators. In the 1990s, no one on the internet knew if you were a dog or a bot. Now, people can know exactly whether you are a dog or a bot. By 2025, I expect there will be more 'proofs of humanity' online due to these technological advancements.
In 2025, blockchain will be used to create tamper-proof records of original digital content, becoming a fortress against deepfakes. When creating videos, photos, or recordings, blockchain can provide and store a unique digital fingerprint. Any changes to the content will alter that signature, making tampering easily detectable. Blockchain can also store metadata and verification proofs from trusted sources, further ensuring the authenticity of the content.
Finally, in 2025, blockchain will help realize the original ideals of the internet, promoting a more creative, open, and diverse web. Currently, users rely on a handful of internet giants—these giants have heavily invested in AI (and are pushing for regulations to block smaller competitors). Once-open websites and applications have added paywalls, limited or closed APIs, deleted archives, edited past content without permission, and added intrusive banners and ads.
By 2025, blockchain alternatives will offer more options, open-source innovations, and community-controlled choices. They will champion the torch of an open internet. Cryptocurrencies will begin to wrest power from large tech companies and return it to users.