The advent of generative AI has triggered concerns among policymakers regarding the regulation of these powerful new technologies. The ability to verify the authenticity of content in a world where virtually any media can be synthetically generated, and the validation of a person’s identity now that machines have passed the Turing Test are some of the challenges that need to be addressed. Additionally, there are questions about the financial transactions that AI agents will be able to conduct, and whether they will be excluded from the financial system altogether.
These technical issues require both technical and policy solutions. Fortunately, cryptocurrency and blockchain may hold some of the answers. Embracing these technologies could guide AI towards beneficial outcomes and assist Congress and other federal policymakers in addressing these challenges.
The creation of AI-generated deepfakes is a primary concern for elected officials, as these can be used to impersonate politicians and dismiss legitimate media. The Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) is working on a technical standard to address this issue, but blockchain technologies, with their immutable ledgers, appear to be a better option. These technologies could be adopted to validate the authenticity of every photograph taken by camera makers, making any changes immediately noticeable.
Another concern is the use of large language models (LLMs) to mimic a person’s writing style and impersonate them. This could pose challenges for online identity validation. The crypto industry may provide a solution through digital identity infrastructure based on biometric authentication and zero-knowledge proofs, which could allow privacy-preserving means of identity validation.
The rise of AI agents also presents novel challenges for internet governance, with models capable of taking complex actions on behalf of humans reaching the market. Cryptocurrencies, especially stablecoins, could play a role in facilitating interactions and financial transactions between AI agents and human users.
By addressing these policy and technical challenges, we can build a digital ecosystem ready for the technologies of the next Industrial Revolution, driven by AI. Dean W. Ball, a research fellow with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, emphasizes the importance of pursuing these solutions to create a digital ecosystem prepared for the future.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information purposes and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph.