Verification Systems Face an Identity Crisis
Determining who is human on the Internet has always been tricky. Bots, crooks, and troublemakers have consistently found ways to outsmart systems.
For decades, the most popular defense tool has been CAPTCHA, which relies on simple puzzles to distinguish humans from machines. However, artificial intelligence (AI) is now rendering these digital gatekeepers obsolete.
“This isn’t a new problem; it’s an ongoing battle,” said Grant Ho, an assistant professor for computer science at the University of Chicago.
Researchers and security experts are rethinking verification systems, exploring ways to incorporate AI, behavioral biometrics, cryptographic proofs, and blockchain-based identities into verification.
“It’s becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate humans and bots,”he stated.
Author summary: Verification systems struggle to identify humans online.