INTRODUCTION
Artificial intelligence is growing at a rapid pace. The capacity to distinguish between human-generated and AI-generated information online is evolving from a novel concept to a requirement.
Some AI-powered technologies have provided fraudsters with new opportunities to execute Sybil assaults, allowing them to create many bogus identities that propagate lies, disinformation, and disruption.
So, what’s the answer? How can we restore the trust and authenticity that these negative actors are eroding?
This is where proof of personhood comes into play.
Proof of personhood (PoP) is a technique that establishes a person’s humanity and uniqueness. It is the initial and most important building component in developing a digital identity.
Some businesses consider proof-of-personhood (PoP), which is also known as proof-of-humanity (PoH), a viable solution to this rising dilemma.
This article addresses what a PoP is and how it might aid in eliminating bad actors.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WHAT IS PROOF OF PERSONHOOD?
Proof of Personhood is a strategy for protecting decentralized internet systems, such as blockchain and peer-to-peer networks, from identity-based assaults. These attacks, known as Sybil attacks, take advantage of decentralized systems’ open and democratic character, generating several phony identities to manipulate voting or rewards.
Simply put, PoP ensures that each unique human participant receives an equal vote and share of benefits.
Unlike other approaches, such as proof-of-work or proof-of-stake, PoP does not rely on economic investment to determine voting power or rewards. Instead, it ensures equal voting power for all humans, making the system more equitable.
WHY IS PERSONHOOD NEEDED?
The issue of Sybil attacks, in which several virtual identities pose as human users, has long been a source of concern.
Some traditional solutions, such as CAPTCHAs, attempt to identify people from computers but can be circumvented by humans who answer repeated CAPTCHAs or by powerful AI that can break the problems.
Adding to the complication, not everyone can answer CAPTCHAs owing to visual impairments or learning problems.
Furthermore, severe identification checks that may alleviate the problem contradict the aims of privacy and ease of access, both of which are highly desired in decentralized systems.
All of these scenarios gave rise to the search for a method of human verification that could be encompassing.
Advanced AI has the potential to be a powerful tool, but like all new technology, it brings with it a host of intricate questions. These include:
- Limiting the number of accounts one person may open to defend against online assaults from several pseudonymous identities produced by a single attacker (also known as sybil attacks).
- Preventing the large-scale spreading of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated material) that has a realistic appearance and sound.
These two issues are resolved by proof of personhood.
Firstly, through account authentication, PoP first offers natural rate limiting. This effectively stops sybil assaults of any appreciable size.
Secondly, it enables the filtration of material or accounts that have been verified as human or not, addressing the proliferation of AI-produced misinformation on social media.
PoP should be viewed as an essential first step in creating a worldwide network of real, distinct human identities rather than as a magic bullet. The potential societal advantages are substantial if realized on a significant enough scale.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND PERSONHOOD
Artificial intelligence has sparked debates regarding the possible personhood of AI entities due to its capacity to mimic human-like cognitive capabilities.
More advanced AI systems display abilities like learning, problem-solving, and even emotional reactions.
This raises concerns about whether later-generation AI systems may qualify as persons, particularly if they exhibit self-awareness and autonomy.
As AI technology develops, the idea of personality and ethical issues pertaining to handling AI beings grow intertwined. Giving AI systems a human-like quality may need ethical standards for their growth, care, and future legal rights.
The emergence of AI also forces us to reexamine what constitutes a person, challenging us to determine if cognitive ability alone can define personhood or if other qualities need to be considered.
BLOCKCHAIN AND PERSONHOOD
In various respects, blockchain technology, recognized for its decentralized and irreversible nature, connects with the notion of personhood.
The ability of blockchain to offer safe and verifiable records might aid in establishing and maintaining an entity’s personhood status.
It may, for example, be used to capture an AI entity’s self-awareness milestones or specific cognitive feats, giving a transparent and tamper-proof record of its evolution.
Furthermore, blockchain’s emphasis on self-sovereign identification is consistent with the concept of personhood.
Individuals and corporations may be able to store their own digital identities on a blockchain, giving them control over their personal information and interactions.
Decentralized identity management may be significant when personhood is granted by social recognition and legal frameworks.
EXAMPLES OF PROOF OF PERSONHOOD VERIFICATION
The following are methods of proof of personhood verification:
PHYSICAL VERIFICATION
This may be a way to prove your identity if you enjoy going to Web3 events and physical meetups. As an illustration, the occasion may give guests a token or NFT to signify their confirmed status.
BIOMETRIC AUTHENTICATION
Some systems use face recognition or other biometric data for biometric verification. WorldCoin, for example, scans your iris to prove your identity. This strategy is effective but poses privacy problems since consumers must trust platforms with sensitive personal information.
DECENTRALIZED IDENTITY PROTOCOLS
The development of decentralized identification protocols will allow users to autonomously manage and confirm their identities on blockchains, eliminating the requirement for a centralized authority.
These protocols may easily be linked with decentralized apps (dApps) to create a trustworthy proof of personhood throughout a network.
TIME-LOCKED WALLETS AND THEIR USAGE
Users would have to lock up their money for a set period of time to trace their transactions over time, which might show evidence of uniquely human behavior. Although it isn’t ideal, this can add additional protection and help you fend off Sybil attacks.
UTILIZING ZERO-KNOWLEDGE PROOFS (ZK-PROOFS)
Individuals can validate personal attributes (like age or nationality) without divulging the data.
This approach can be employed within a decentralized framework, enabling users to verify their distinctiveness without compromising private information.
SOME PROOF OF PERSONHOOD PROJECTS
Worldcoin’s Proof of Personhood (PoP) has lately gained prominence, but the concept dates back to Vitalik Buterin’s 2014 proposal for a cryptocurrency-specific identification system.
This concept evolved into PoP, which is presently used in various applications.
– Worldcoin’s ID Project
– Gitcoin Passport
– Proof of Humanity
– Idena
– Circles
– BrightID
– Civic Pass
CHALLENGES AND CONSIDERATIONS OF PROOF OF PERSONHOOD
While AI and blockchain offer intriguing possibilities for redefining and understanding personhood, they also present challenges:
ETHICAL FRAMEWORKS
As AI entities and blockchain technology raise new ethical questions, establishing comprehensive ethical frameworks becomes essential. These frameworks should address the implications of conferring personhood on AI systems and the potential consequences of integrating blockchain-based identity systems.
LEGAL AND REGULATORY ASPECTS
If AI entities are recognized as persons, there may be legal and regulatory challenges surrounding liability, rights, and responsibilities. Blockchain-based identity systems might also require legal validation to ensure their authenticity and adherence to existing laws.
BIAS AND FAIRNESS
AI systems are known to inherit biases from their training data. If AI entities were to attain personhood, addressing bias would become a critical concern to ensure fairness and prevent discrimination.
PRIVACY AND SECURITY
Integrating AI and blockchain with personhood requires addressing privacy concerns associated with the data collected from these entities. Ensuring the security and integrity of blockchain-based identity systems is equally important.
CONCLUSION
Proof of Personhood presents a novel way for digital identity and validation that emphasizes human users’ particular individuality. Although it represents a revolutionary approach to online relationships, it is critical to recognize that PoP may not be appropriate in all situations.
While the concept has potential, careful execution must balance its benefits and limits. The issues provided by PoP highlight the complexities of developing complete solutions in the changing field of digital identification.