Blockchain innovation will put an AI-powered internet back into users' hands
The doomers have it wrong. AI is not going to end the world — but it is going to end the internet as we’ve known it.
AI is already upending a core economic covenant of the internet, which has existed since the advent of search: a few companies (mostly Google) bring demand, and creators bring supply (and get some ad revenue or recognition from it). AI tools are already generating and summarizing content, obviating the need for users to click through to the sites of content providers, and thereby upsetting the balance.
Meanwhile, an ocean of AI-powered deepfakes and bots will make us question what’s real, and degrade people’s trust in the online world. And as big tech companies — who can afford the most data and compute — continue to invest in AI, they will become even more powerful, further closing off what remains of the open internet.
The march of technology is inevitable. I’m not calling attention to this to cry that the sky is falling, or to hold back progress. We need to help individual users gain some control of their digital lives. Thoughtful government regulation could help but also risks slowing down innovation. And attempting a one-size-fits-all solution can create as many problems as it solves. Let’s face it, users are not going to retreat from life online. So what can we do?
Major technology movements often come together — think of the rise of social, cloud, and mobile computing in the 2000s. This time is no different: AI needs blockchain-enabled computing. Why? First, blockchains enforce ownership. Blockchains can make credible commitments involving property, payouts, and power. A decentralized network of computers — not a big company, or any other centralized intermediary — validates transactions, ensuring that rules and records cannot be altered without consensus. 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 basic ownership right that blockchains can enforce is identity. If you are who you say you are, you can sign a statement, cryptographically, attesting as much. We could carry our identities around the internet without relying on third parties. Onchain identities could also help separate real users from bots and imposters. In the ‘90s, no one on the internet knew if you were a dog. Now, people can know if you’re a dog — or a bot. In the coming years, thanks to recent technology advances, we will see more “proof of humanity” on the internet.
Blockchains can also create tamper-resistant records of digital content to protect against deepfakes. When a video, photo, or audio recording is created, blockchains can store a unique digital fingerprint. Any changes to the content alter that signature, making it easy to detect tampering. Blockchains can also store metadata and verify attestations from trusted sources, further ensuring content authenticity.
Finally, blockchains can help achieve the original ideals of the internet, helping keep it creative, open, and diverse. Right now, users depend on a few internet giants — the same ones that are investing so heavily in AI (and asking for regulation to keep smaller competitors out). Websites and apps that were once open have added paywalls, restricted or closed their APIs, removed their archives, edited past content without permission, and added intrusive banners and ads. Blockchain alternatives offer more choice, open source innovation, and community-controlled options. They will carry the torch of the open internet. Crypto can take power away from big tech companies and put it back in the hands of users.
***
This op-ed first appeared in Wired UK — “The World in 2025” — on December 11, 2024. It is based on ideas originally presented in the book Read Write Own: Building the Next Era of the Internet by Chris Dixon.
***
The views expressed here are those of the individual AH Capital Management, L.L.C. (“a16z”) personnel quoted and are not the views of a16z or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources, including from portfolio companies of funds managed by a16z. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, a16z has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the current or enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. In addition, this content may include third-party advertisements; a16z has not reviewed such advertisements and does not endorse any advertising content contained therein.
This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investors or prospective investors, and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any fund managed by a16z. (An offering to invest in an a16z fund will be made only by the private placement memorandum, subscription agreement, and other relevant documentation of any such fund and should be read in their entirety.) Any investments or portfolio companies mentioned, referred to, or described are not representative of all investments in vehicles managed by a16z, and there can be no assurance that the investments will be profitable or that other investments made in the future will have similar characteristics or results. A list of investments made by funds managed by Andreessen Horowitz (excluding investments for which the issuer has not provided permission for a16z to disclose publicly as well as unannounced investments in publicly traded digital assets) is available at https://a16z.com/investment-list/.
Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others. Please see https://a16z.com/disclosures/ for additional important information.