Identity verification is a crucial aspect of our digital lives, whether we are accessing online banking, social media accounts, or even email.

However, traditional methods of identity verification are often plagued with issues of security and user convenience. This is where blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) technology come into play, offering more secure and user-friendly identity verification solutions.

How Blockchain Beefs up Security in Identity Verification

Security is one of the most significant benefits blockchain can bring. Traditional methods rely on centralised databases, meaning they can be susceptible to hacking and data breaches. Blockchain mitigates these risks through the following mechanisms:

1. Decentralisation

Unlike centralised systems, there's no single point of failure. Hackers would need to simultaneously breach multiple nodes, making unauthorised access extremely difficult.

2. Encryption and Data Integrity

Blockchain uses advanced cryptographic techniques to protect data. Once information is entered into a blockchain, it becomes immutable. This makes it nearly impossible for malicious actors to alter or delete records.

3. Smart Contracts

Smart contracts are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code. They can automate the identity verification process, reducing human error and increasing security.

For example, a smart contract can verify your identity by cross-referencing multiple sources of data automatically.

How Blockchain Brings About User-Friendly Solutions

Security isn't the only benefit. Blockchain technology also offers a more user-friendly experience compared to traditional verification methods.

1. Self-Sovereign Identity

One of the most exciting developments in blockchain-based identity verification is the concept of self-sovereign identity (SSI).

With SSI, individuals have full control over their own personal information. They can decide what data to share and with whom, without relying on third-party intermediaries.

2. Streamlined User Experience

Traditional identity verification often involves multiple steps, including manual filling of forms and waiting for approvals.

Blockchain can streamline this process through instant verification. With verified credentials stored on a blockchain, users can authenticate themselves with just a single click.

3. Interoperability

Different platforms often require different forms of identity verification, leading to a fragmented user experience.

Blockchain enables interoperability between various systems, allowing a single set of verified credentials to be used conveniently across multiple platforms.

Interoperability refers to how well different blockchain networks communicate with each other. Take aelf, for instance; its multi-layered architecture contains sidechains (these are separate blockchains connected to aelf's mainchain) that interact with the mainchain and other 'incompatible' chains through bridges. With that, it enables seamless transfer of data and assets across different chains.

In case that was still a handful, just imagine you're traveling around the world, hopping between different countries without having to exchange your money — that can be time-consuming, and bad conversion rates could eat at your budget. Cross-chain interoperability is like having magical bridges between these countries, where you can use your own currency and it automatically gets converted across borders.

Cross-chain interactions can be further empowered by incorporating AI models, which quickens data transfer and validation processes in a more secure manner.

What's the Role of AI in Digital Identity Verification?

AI algorithms excel at analysing and verifying the data stored on the blockchain, making identity authentication quicker and more precise.

Improved Data Analysis: AI pores through extensive data pools and identifies anomalies in digital identities with incredible speed, reducing fraud risk. Machine learning adapts to new threats, enhancing data security over time.
Behavioral Analysis: By studying the behavioral patterns of users, AI algorithms can detect inconsistencies that might indicate fraudulent activity. Everything from typing speed and mouse movements to transaction history can be analysed for unusual behavior.
Enhanced Biometric Verification: When paired with AI, methods like fingerprint scanning and facial recognition become significantly more reliable and accurate. When biometric data is stored on a blockchain, they become even more secure and tamper-proof.
Continuous Authentication: Traditionally, identity verification was a one-time process. AI can enable continuous authentication, constantly verifying user identity without any repeated, active input by users.
Reduced Fraudulent Activities: Fraud detection systems powered by AI can quickly identify red flags and alert users before they happen, be it in banking, e-commerce, healthcare, or any other sector.

Real-World Applications of Blockchain and AI in Identity Verification

1. Banking and Financial Services

Traditional Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures are often cumbersome, involving multiple steps and substantial manual effort.

Financial institutions can further enhance this by leveraging blockchain and AI to accurately verify documents and detect fraudulent activity. This combination accelerates customer onboarding and significantly reduces operational costs.

2. Healthcare

Given the nature of emergencies, secure and rapid identity verification is paramount in healthcare.

Blockchain ensures that medical records are immutable and accessible only by authorised individuals. AI algorithms can help match patients with their health records quickly, so medical staff can have timely access to vital information.

This improves patient care while safeguarding sensitive health data from unauthorised access.

3. Government and Public Services

From driver’s license renewals to tax filing, blockchain can simplify and secure these processes. When combined with AI, the almost-instant verification of identity documents thus reduces bureaucratic burden for both citizens and public administrations.

Several countries are piloting blockchain-based identity systems to provide citizens with a seamless verification process for various services, from voting to welfare distribution.

4. Travel and Hospitality

Identity verification at airports and hotels is often a frustrating experience for travellers. Blockchain can create a trusted and verifiable identity system where travelers can share their verified identity details securely. AI can speed up this process by quickly validating and processing this information, making check-ins and boardings much smoother and quicker.

5. Education

It's not uncommon to hear of cases of falsified certifications, especially in job applications. Verifying the credentials of students, teachers and job applicants is crucial; blockchain ensures that educational certificates and qualifications are tamper-proof and easily verifiable. AI tools can facilitate rapid validation of these credentials, making it easier for institutions and employers to trust the authenticity of a person's academic achievements.

Challenges of Adopting Blockchain and AI to Verify Our Digital Selves

While blockchain offers numerous advantages for identity verification, there are also challenges to be addressed. These include:

Scalability: Large transaction volumes can adversely affect blockchain networks' scalability. Solutions like sharding and off-chain transactions are being explored, but this remains a hurdle to widespread adoption.
Regulatory Environment: Compliance with existing regulations, such as GDPR, is crucial for the success of blockchain-based identity systems. Ongoing dialogue between regulators and technology providers is essential to navigate this complex environment.
User Adoption: Continuous education for users about the benefits of blockchain and AI, and addressing their concerns are key steps in driving widespread acceptance.

Closing Words

At some point, we've experienced holiday dampeners in snaking airport immigration lines , and nobody likes the thought of their medical history being breached and offered for sale on the dark web.

It could be sooner rather than later that the world pivots to blockchain and AI technologies to improve efficiencies in identity verification, as well as to keep data criminals at bay.

Despite challenges such as scalability and regulatory compliance, the potential benefits make blockchain and AI the new, trusted prospects for the future of digital identity verification.

*Disclaimer: The information provided on this blog does not constitute investment advice, financial advice, trading advice, or any other form of professional advice. Aelf makes no guarantees or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information on this blog. You should not make any investment decisions based solely on the information provided on this blog. You should always consult with a qualified financial or legal advisor before making any investment decisions.

About aelf

aelf, an AI-enhanced Layer 1 blockchain network, leverages the robust C# programming language for efficiency and scalability across its sophisticated multi-layered architecture. Founded in 2017 with its global hub in Singapore, aelf is a pioneer in the industry, leading Asia in evolving blockchain with state-of-the-art AI integration to ensure an efficient, low-cost, and highly secure platform that is both developer and end-user friendly. Aligned with its progressive vision, aelf is committed to fostering innovation within its ecosystem and advancing Web3 and AI technology adoption.

For more information about aelf, please refer to our Whitepaper V2.0.

Stay connected with our community:

Website | X | Telegram | Discord

‍

Back to Blog

Tool/Platform	What's it about
ChainGPT	An AI-powered assistant for the blockchain and crypto industry, specializing in content creation, language translation, smart contract coding, and more.
aelf	A high-performance, customisable multi-chain blockchain framework with AI-powered smart contracts and a developer-friendly environment.
Quick Intel	An AI-powered crypto security platform that helps investors avoid scams, rug pulls, and honeypots by analysing smart contracts, social sentiment, and on-chain data.
Cogwise AI News Aggregator	An AI-powered news aggregator that analyses real-time news and global trends to predict market movements in the crypto market.
OpenAI Codex	An AI system that transforms natural language into code, automating code creation for smart contracts, blockchain applications, and other development tasks.
QnA3	An AI-powered Web3 knowledge hub that provides real-time information and insights on cryptocurrencies, blockchain projects, and the broader Web3 ecosystem, with unique Solana Actions integrations.
Fetch.ai	A platform that combines AI and blockchain to create autonomous economic agents (AEAs) for various applications, including supply chain optimisation and smart city management.
Octavia	A decentralised digital identity (DID) platform for creating and managing self-sovereign digital identities, empowering users to control their data and online presence.
TensorFlow	A versatile open-source machine learning framework used for building AI models that can analyse blockchain data, enhance security, and predict market trends.
Alethea	A platform that creates 'Intelligent NFTs' (iNFTs) with unique personalities and the ability to engage in conversations, powered by AI and blockchain technology.

Chain	URL	Explorer
AELF	https://aelf-test-node.aelf.io/	https://explorer-test.aelf.io/
tDVW	https://tdvw-test-node.aelf.io/	https://explorer-test-side02.aelf.io/

Feature	Description
Inheritance	ERC-404 inherits from the interfaces IERC-404, IERC721 Receiver, and IERC165, implementing functions specified in these interfaces, behaving as both ERC20 and ERC721.
Data Structures	Mappings track balances, allowances, approvals, and ownership of tokens. Double-ended queue stores ERC721 token IDs. Data for managing ownership and indices of ERC721 tokens.
Constructor	Initialises token name, symbol, decimals, and other necessary variables for ERC20 and ERC721 tokens.
Token Minting and Burning	_mintERC20 function for minting ERC20 tokens. _retrieveOrMintERC721 function for minting ERC721 tokens and retrieving from a bank. _withdrawAndStoreERC721 function for depositing ERC721 tokens into the bank.
Transfers	Functions for transferring ERC20 and ERC271 tokens between addresses. Distinguishes between token types based on ID. _transferERC20WithERC721 function handles transfers involving both types.
ERC20 and ERC721 Interactions	Approve function handles approvals for both token types. Functions like transferFrom, safeTransferFrom, and permit handle transfers and approvals.
EIP-2612 Support	Supports EIP-2612 permit functionality for ERC20 tokens.
Interface Compatibility	Implements necessary functions for ERC-404 and ERC165 interfaces, indicating compatibility with ERC20 and ERC721 standards.

Role	Max Number
BP	2N+1, N starts from 8 in 2022
Candidate node	5*(2N+1)
Voter	No limit

Benefits	Description
Makes smart contracts 'smarter'	AI-driven smart contracts can autonomously modify terms based on predefined conditions and real-time data input, ensuring that the contracts are not just automated but also intelligent and self-improving over time.
Levelled up data analysis	Data is the new oil, and AI is the machinery that refines it. It is possible for AI to reduce large-volume blockchain data analysis time by up to 90%.
Boosts security	Through machine learning models, AI can prevent frauds and detect security threats in real time. It can identify potential breaches, predict future threats, and adapt to evolving security measures.
Lowers carbon footprint	AI algorithms help optimise energy consumption in blockchain operations, given the flak drawn by activities like Bitcoin mining.

Why Blockchain and AI Are the Near Future in Digital Identity Verification