Destroyers have it wrong. A.I Not going to end the world—but it is going to end the web as we know it.
AI is already perpetuating the Internet’s economic contract that has existed since the advent of search: some companies (mostly Google) bring the demand, and creators bring the supply (and receive some ad revenue or recognition from it). AI tools are already generating and summarizing content, indicating the need for users to click through to content providers’ sites, and thereby upsetting the balance.
Meanwhile, a sea of AI-driven deepfakes And bots will make us question what’s real and erode people’s trust in the online world. And as the big tech companies — which can do the most data and computation — continue to invest in AI, they will become even more powerful, closing off what’s left of the open internet.
The march of technology is inevitable. I’m not paying attention to the fact that the sky is falling or to stop progress. We need to help individual users gain some control of their digital lives. Thoughtful government regulation can help, but it often slows innovation. Attempting a one-size-fits-all solution can create as many problems as it solves. And, let’s face it, users aren’t going to shy away from living their lives online.
Major technology movements often coincide – think of the rise of social, cloud, and mobile computing in the 2000s. This time is no different: AI requires blockchain-enabled computing. Why? first, Blockchain Apply ownership. Blockchains can make reliable commitments that include assets, payments and power. A decentralized network of computers—no big company, no other centralized intermediary—validates transactions, ensuring that rules and records cannot be changed without consent. Smart contracts automate and enforce these ownership rights, creating a system that ensures transparency, security and trust, giving users full control and ownership of their digital lives. For creators, this means the ability to decide how others—including AI systems—can use their work.
Another fundamental property right that blockchain can implement is identity. If you are who you say you are, you can sign a statement, cryptographically, verifying as much. We can carry our identity across the web without relying on third parties. Onchain identification can also help distinguish real users from bots and imposters. In the 1990s No one on the internet knew if you were a dog. Now, people can know for sure if you’re a dog—or a bot. In 2025, I expect to see more “proof of humanity” on the Internet, due to recent advances in these technologies.
In 2025, blockchain will be used to create tamper-resistant records of the original digital content, a bulwark against deep fakes. When a video, photo, or audio recording is created, blockchains can provide and store a unique digital fingerprint. Any change in content changes that signature, making it easy to detect tampering. Blockchains can also store metadata and verification credentials from trusted sources, further ensuring content authenticity.
Finally, in 2025, blockchains will help achieve the core ideals of the Internet, fostering a more creative, open, diverse web. Right now, users rely on a few Internet giants — the same ones that are investing heavily in AI (And seeking regulation to keep out smaller competitors). Websites and apps that were once open have added paywalls, restricted or closed their APIs, removed their archives, edited previous content without permission, and displayed intrusive banners and ads. are added In 2025, blockchain options will offer more options, open source innovation, and community-driven options. They will carry the torch of an open Internet. Crypto will begin to take power away from the big tech companies, putting it back in the hands of the users.
