Author: Chris Dixon, partner at a16z and head of a16z crypto; compiled by 0xjs@Golden Finance
Doomsayers are wrong. AI will not end the world—but it will end the internet as we know it.
AI has disrupted the core economic contract of the internet, which has existed since the advent of search: a few companies (mainly Google) create demand, while creators provide supply (and earn some ad revenue or recognition from it). AI tools have generated and summarized content, allowing users to bypass content providers' websites, thus breaking the balance.
Meanwhile, a large amount of AI-driven deep fakes and bots will make us question what is real and diminish people's trust in the online world. As large tech companies that can afford the most data and computing power continue to invest in AI, they will become more powerful, further closing off the remaining parts of the open internet.
Technological advancement is inevitable. I raise this point not to cry 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 could help, but it could also slow innovation. And trying to adopt a one-size-fits-all solution could create as many problems as it solves. Let's face it, users are not going to give up their online lives. So what can we do?
Major technological movements often progress in tandem—think of the rise of social media, cloud computing, and mobile computing in the 21st century. This time is no different: AI needs blockchain-supported computing. Why?
First, blockchain can enforce ownership. Blockchain can make credible commitments regarding property, spending, and power. A decentralized computer network (rather than large companies or any other centralized intermediaries) verifies transactions, ensuring that rules and records cannot be changed without consensus. Smart contracts automate and enforce this ownership, creating a system that ensures transparency, security, and trust, allowing users to fully control and own their digital lives. For creators, this means the ability to 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 90s, nobody on the internet knew you were a dog. Now, people can know whether you are a dog or a bot. In the coming years, thanks to recent technological advancements, we will see more 'human proof' on the internet.
Blockchain can also create tamper-proof records of digital content to prevent deep fakes. When creating videos, photos, or recordings, blockchain can store a unique digital fingerprint. Any change to the content would alter that signature, making tampering easily detectable. Blockchain can also store metadata and verify proofs from trusted sources, further ensuring the authenticity of the content.
Finally, blockchain can help realize the internet's original ideals, aiding it in maintaining creativity, openness, and diversity. Currently, users rely on a handful of internet giants—who have invested heavily in AI (and seek regulations to keep smaller competitors at bay). Once-open websites and applications have added paywalls, restricted or shut down APIs, deleted archives, edited past content without permission, and added intrusive banners and ads. Blockchain alternatives offer more choices, open-source innovations, and community-controlled options. They will carry the torch for an open internet. Cryptocurrencies can take power away from large tech companies and return it to users.