Original title: Blockchain Innovation Will Put an AI-Powered Internet Back Into Users’ Hands
Author: Chris Dixon, founding partner at a16z Crypto
Compiled by: Halesman, ChainCatcher
Apocalypse theorists are wrong. Artificial intelligence will not destroy the world—but it will destroy the internet as we know it.
Artificial intelligence has disrupted the internet economy contracts that have existed since the advent of search: a handful of companies (primarily Google) generate demand, and creators supply it (and earn some ad revenue or recognition from it). 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 erode trust in the online world. With the advent of the AI era, large tech companies with the power to handle massive amounts of data and computing power will continue to invest in AI, and these companies will become even stronger by monopolizing resources, making the already closed-off remnants of the internet even more closed.
Technological progress is inevitable. My call to attention on this matter is not to shout that the sky is falling or to hinder progress. We need to help individual users regain some control over their digital lives. Thoughtful government regulation might help, but it often slows innovation. Trying one-size-fits-all solutions can create as many problems as they solve. And let's face it, users are not going to 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 exception: artificial intelligence requires blockchain-supported computing.
Why? First, blockchain can enforce ownership. Blockchain can make credible commitments regarding property, spending, and power. A decentralized computer network (not big 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 guarantees transparency, security, and trust, giving users full control and ownership of their digital lives. For creators, this means they can decide how others (including AI systems) use their work.
Another fundamental ownership that blockchain can enforce is identity. If your identity is as you claim, you can sign a cryptographic statement to prove it. We can carry our identity online without relying on third parties. On-chain identity can also help distinguish real users from bots and impersonators. In the 1990s, nobody 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, due to the latest advancements in these technologies, I expect more 'proof of humanity' to emerge on the internet.
In 2025, blockchain will be used to create tamper-proof records of original digital content, becoming a bulwark 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 easy to detect. Blockchain can also store metadata and validation proofs from trusted sources, further ensuring the authenticity of the content.
Finally, in 2025, blockchain will help realize the internet's original ideals, fostering a more creative, open, and diverse web. Currently, users rely on a few internet giants—these giants have invested heavily in AI (and have lobbied for regulations to prevent smaller competitors from entering). Once open websites and applications have increased paywalls, restricted or closed APIs, deleted archives, edited past content without permission, and added intrusive banners and ads.
In 2025, blockchain alternatives will offer more choices, open-source innovations, and community-controlled options. They will carry the torch of the open internet. Cryptocurrencies will begin to strip power from large tech companies and return it to users.
