Proof of Human: Next Level of Authetication in the Age of AI

Remember the time Google woulf ask you to prove you are HUMAN by making you identify lamp-posts in a photograph? The emergence of AI has made such basic methodologies passe'. The new frontier is emerging as essential for trust and security: Proof of Human.

What is Proof of Human and Why is it Relevant?

Proof of Human, often referred to as Proof of Personhood, is a mechanism designed to verify that a digital interaction, account, or action originates from a real, unique, living human being, rather than a bot, an AI, or an automated system.

Just a few years ago, such a concept might have seemed futuristic, but with the rapid advancements in Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and the proliferation of AI-powered bots capable of mimicking human behavior, the ability to differentiate between human and machine online has become paramount.

The relevance of Proof of Human stems from several critical challenges in our increasingly digital lives:

• Combating Misinformation and Deepfakes: As AI generates increasingly realistic text, audio, and video, it becomes harder to discern genuine content from fabricated narratives. You can show an image of Modi playing cricket and fabricate news around it which can get viral without much evidence. Proof of Human offers a way to verify the human origin of information, fostering trust in online communities and media.

• Preventing Online Fraud and Cybercrime: AI-powered cybercrime is becoming more frequent and sophisticated. From phishing attacks to identity theft and account takeovers, malicious AI can exploit vulnerabilities. Proof of Human adds a crucial "humanness" layer to digital interactions, making it significantly harder for automated systems to carry out fraudulent activities.
• Ensuring Fair and Secure Digital Interactions: In areas like online voting, decentralized platforms, or even competitive gaming, ensuring "one person, one vote" or "one person, one account" is vital. Proof of Human helps resist Sybil attacks, where a single entity creates multiple fake identities to gain disproportionate influence.
• Laying the Foundation for Decentralized Digital Identity: As governments and industries move towards more secure and robust digital identity systems, Proof of Human can serve as a fundamental layer, ensuring that the underlying identity is tied to a unique human.

Key Players in the Proof of Human Space

While the concept is still evolving, several innovative players are developing solutions for Proof of Human, each with unique approaches:

• Worldcoin (World ID): Worldcoin's World ID is perhaps one of the most prominent examples. It aims to anonymously ensure World Network members are real and unique humans through an "Orb" – a physical device that scans a user's iris. This approach emphasizes privacy through cutting-edge cryptography and personal custody of data.
• Proof of Humanity (PoH): This decentralized protocol leverages a "web of trust" model where individuals attest to each other's humanness. It combines social verification with a registry of unique humans on a blockchain. The challenge here lies in preventing collusion and ensuring the network's integrity.
• BrightID: Similar to Proof of Humanity, BrightID builds a social graph of trust to establish unique identities. Users connect with people they know in real life to verify their humanness, aiming to create a decentralized, privacy-preserving identity network.
• Humanity Protocol: This project focuses on biometric recognition (specifically palm recognition) as a secure and accurate method for human authentication. It aims to provide a robust solution for various use cases, from financial transactions to e-commerce security.

Each of these players grapples with the inherent trade-off between privacy, decentralization, and the robustness of verification. While some lean into hardware-based biometric verification for strong assurances, others explore social graph models for greater decentralization and privacy.

The Growing Need for Proof of Human in India, Beyond Aadhaar & OTP

India has made significant strides in digital identity and KYC (Know Your Customer) with Aadhaar and OTP-based systems. Aadhaar, with its unique 12-digit number linked to biometric and demographic data, and OTP (One-Time Password) verification, have revolutionized access to services and reduced fraud in many areas. However, despite their widespread adoption and effectiveness, Proof of Human is becoming increasingly crucial even in India due to certain limitations:

• Aadhaar Number Availability: While Aadhaar data is protected, the rampant availability of Aadhaar numbers and physical cards (often willingly shared for various services) creates vulnerabilities. If an individual's Aadhaar number and registered mobile number (for OTP) are compromised, it can lead to significant fraud.

OTP Bypass: Sophisticated fraudsters can employ tactics like SIM swapping, phishing, or malware to intercept OTPs, thereby bypassing a critical layer of security.        

• Synthetic Identity Fraud: Even with Aadhaar, the creation of "synthetic identities" – a combination of real and fabricated information – can be challenging to detect. Proof of Human focuses on verifying the uniqueness and liveness of the human, making synthetic identity creation much harder.
• Deepfake Exploitation: As deepfake technology becomes more accessible and realistic, fraudsters could potentially use deepfake videos or audio to bypass traditional video KYC or voice authentication systems that rely solely on visual or auditory cues, without a robust liveness check.

Real Use Cases: Frauds with Aadhaar/OTP vs. Proof of Human Security

Let's illustrate with real-world scenarios:

Scenario 1: Loan Fraud with Compromised Aadhaar/OTP

• Aadhaar/OTP Vulnerability: A fraudster obtains a victim's Aadhaar number and, through a phishing attack, gains access to their registered mobile number or tricks them into sharing an OTP. The fraudster then applies for a small loan online using the victim's Aadhaar details. The OTP sent to the compromised number is intercepted, and the loan is approved. The victim only realizes the fraud when they receive collection notices.
• Proof of Human Security: In a system integrating Proof of Human (e.g., using iris scan or palm vein recognition), even if the Aadhaar number and OTP are compromised, the fraudster would be unable to pass the liveness check and biometric verification. The system would recognize that the person attempting the transaction is not the genuine owner of the identity, thus preventing the loan disbursement.

Scenario 2: Account Takeover in E-commerce

• Aadhaar/OTP Vulnerability: A hacker gains access to a user's e-commerce account credentials. The account is linked to their Aadhaar for KYC purposes, and a one-time password is sent to their registered mobile number for high-value transactions. If the mobile number is compromised (e.g., via SIM swap), the hacker can intercept the OTP and make unauthorized purchases or transfer funds.
• Proof of Human Security: With Proof of Human integrated, even after logging in, critical actions (like adding a new payment method, changing delivery address, or making a high-value purchase) would require a Proof of Human verification. This could involve a quick biometric scan or a liveness detection challenge, ensuring the person interacting with the account is indeed the legitimate owner, not a hacker who has bypassed traditional authentication.

Proof of human does not only prevent frauds but facilitates new ways of doing old things e.g. Voting. I will speak about this use case in a seperate Post.

Immediate Industries and Use Cases with Agentic AI

The emergence of Agentic AI systems that can autonomously set and pursue goals, make decisions, and take actions without continuous human guidance—makes Proof of Human even more critical. When AI can act independently, verifying the human at the origin of its instructions or interactions becomes paramount to prevent misuse and ensure accountability.        

Immediate industries and use cases where Proof of Human will be indispensable, especially given Agentic AI:

1. Financial Services (Banking, Lending, Insurance):
2. Online Governance and Voting:
3. Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) and Web3:
4. E-commerce and Online Marketplaces:
5. Social Media and Content Platforms:
6. Human Resources and Remote Work Platforms:

In conclusion, as agentic AI becomes more prevalent and capable, the need for a robust and reliable "Proof of Human" concept transcends mere convenience; it becomes a fundamental pillar for security, trust, and the very integrity of our digital society. While Aadhaar and OTP have served their purpose, the next generation of digital identity security demands a solution that can truly differentiate us from the increasingly intelligent machines we are creating.