The fatalists are wrong. AI is not going to end the world, but it will end the Web as we know it.
AI is already disrupting the internet economic pact that has existed since the advent of search: a few companies (mainly Google) generate demand and creators provide supply (and get some advertising revenue or recognition from it). AI tools are already generating and summarizing content, obviating the need for users to click through to content providers’ sites and thus upsetting the balance.
Meanwhile, an ocean of deepfakes and AI-powered bots will make us question what is real and degrade people’s trust in the online world. And as big tech companies (which can afford the most data and computing) continue to invest in AI, they will become even more powerful, further shutting down what remains of the open Internet.
The march of technology is inevitable. I’m not calling attention to this to shout that the sky is falling or to slow down progress. We need to help individual users gain some control of their digital lives. Thoughtful government regulation might help, but it often holds back innovation. Trying a single solution can create as many problems as it solves. And, let’s face it, users are not going to stop living their lives online.
Big tech movements often coincide: think about the rise of social, cloud, and mobile computing in the 2000s. This time is no different: AI needs blockchain-based computing. Because? First, blockchains enforce ownership. Blockchains can make credible commitments involving ownership, payments, and power. A decentralized network of computers (not a large company or any other centralized intermediary) validates transactions, ensuring that rules and records cannot be changed without consensus. Smart contracts automate and enforce these property 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 artificial intelligence systems) can use their work.
Another basic property right that blockchains can enforce is identity. If you are who you say you are, you can sign a statement, cryptographically, attesting to it. We could carry our identities on the web without depending on third parties. Chained identities could also help separate 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 are a dog or a robot. In 2025, I expect to see more “proof of humanity” on the Internet, thanks to recent advances in these technologies.
In 2025, blockchains will be used to create tamper-proof records of original digital content, a bulwark against deepfakes. When a video, photo or audio recording is created, blockchains can provide and store a unique digital fingerprint. Any change to the content alters that signature, making it easier to detect tampering. Blockchains can also store metadata and verification certifications from trusted sources, further ensuring the authenticity of content.
Finally, in 2025, blockchains will help achieve the original ideals of the Internet, fostering a more creative, open, and diverse network. Right now, users depend on a few Internet giants, the same ones that are investing so much in AI (and call for regulation to keep out smaller competitors). Websites and apps that were once open have added paywalls, restricted or closed their APIs, deleted their files, edited previous content without permission, and added intrusive banners and ads. In 2025, blockchain alternatives will offer more choice, open source innovation, and community-controlled options. They will carry the torch of the open Internet. Cryptocurrencies will begin to take power away from big technology companies and put it back in the hands of users.