How Bots, Deepfakes and AI Agents Are Forcing a New Internet Identity Layer

How Bots, Deepfakes and AI Agents Are Forcing a New Internet Identity Layer

From a16z crypto show by a16z crypto, Robert Hackett, Sonal Chokshi

April 17, 2026 · 42 min · Episode 112

About this episode

The episode discusses the need for proof of human verification online and the challenges associated with it.

Ben Horowitz and Erik Torenberg speak with Alex Blania of Tools for Humanity about World and the growing need for proof of human verification online. They discuss the challenge of proving human uniqueness at scale, the privacy model behind World ID, and why platforms from social media to dating apps to video conferencing may soon need stronger ways to verify that users are real people.

People in this episode

Hosts: Ben Horowitz, Erik Torenberg

Guest: Alex Blania

Topics covered

  • AI
  • identity verification
  • deepfakes
  • human uniqueness
  • privacy
  • online platforms

Keywords

  • AI agents
  • deepfakes
  • identity layer
  • human verification
  • World ID
  • social media
  • dating apps

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tools for Humanity, World

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