Original title: Blockchain Innovation Will Put an AI-Powered Internet Back Into Users’ Hands
Author: Chris Dixon, founding partner of a16z Crypto
Compiled by: Hailsman, ChainCatcher
Apocalyptic 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 contract that has existed since the advent of search: a few companies (mainly Google) generate demand, while creators provide supply (and earn some advertising 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, 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. With the arrival of the AI era, large tech companies capable of handling vast amounts of data and computational power will continue to invest in artificial intelligence, and these companies, relying on monopolistic resources, will become increasingly powerful, making the already closed-off remaining parts of the internet even more closed.
Technological progress is inevitable. I call attention to this not to declare 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. 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.
Significant 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, expenditure, and power. A decentralized computer network (not large companies or other centralized intermediaries) verifies transactions, ensuring that rules and records cannot be altered 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) use their works.
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 if you are a dog or a bot. By 2025, due to the latest advances in these technologies, I expect there will be more 'proof of humanity' on the internet.
In 2025, blockchain will be used to create tamper-proof records of original digital content, becoming a fortress against deep fakes. 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, fostering a more creative, open, and diverse web. Currently, users depend on a few internet giants—these giants have invested heavily in artificial intelligence (and seek regulations to prevent smaller competitors from entering). Once-open websites and applications have added 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 for an open internet. Cryptocurrencies will begin to take power from large tech companies and return it to users.