Proof of Personhood During the Age of AI

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI), the increase in interconnected devices and the overall sophistication of cyber threats are creating a new reality where trust is fragile and the very definition of “personhood” is being challenged. In her keynote session at the 2025 ACFE Fraud Conference Asia-Pacific, Amanda Johnstone, an AI technologist and TIME’s Next Generation Leader and Award-Winning Entrepreneur, discusses the framework for understanding and navigating a world where AI is becoming increasingly prevalent.

For years, people have relied on passwords, two-factor authentication and other traditional security measures to verify their identities online. However, these methods are proving vulnerable as it becomes increasingly easier for anyone to track, including fraudsters. Phishing scams, malicious software (malware) and social engineering tactics are making it easier for fraudsters to steal credentials and impersonate individuals, and organizations, online. Additionally, there are new avenues that fraud is beginning to seep through.

Recently, it has become increasingly difficult to decipher whether something is real, or AI-generated. This erosion of trust has negatively impacted organizations and individuals, with businesses losing more money each year to fraud and cybercrime, and individuals becoming wary of sharing personal information online. To address this, Johnstone presented attendees with a new standard for identity verification called “Proof of Personhood.”

Proof of Personhood

“It really is the next wave in AI and no one is thinking about it yet,” Johnstone stated. She claimed that the concept of “Proof of Personhood” goes beyond confirming that a device is authorized to access a system, but that it requires a deeper understanding of an individual’s behavior, psychophysiological state of the body and emotions.

Proof of Personhood requires a variety of tools and technologies to verify your identity. By combining them, you can create a more reliable system for identity verification. According to Johnstone, these technologies could include facial recognition, voice data, body temperature, heart rate, keystroke analysis and more.

The “Internet of You”

Johnstone continued her session by explaining how “Proof of Personhood” is closely linked to the emergence of the “Internet of You,” which she also mentioned could be referred to as the “Internet of Bodies.” She explained how this refers to the growing network of devices and sensors that are constantly collecting data about our physical and emotional states.

The world is surrounded by devices that are constantly gathering personal information. This data has the potential to revolutionize various industries. However, this also raises concerns about privacy and security. As more personal data is collected and shared, the risk of data breaches and identity theft increases.

Striking a Balance

After discussing the “Proof of Personhood” and the “Internet of You,” Johnstone highlighted how it is essential to strike a balance between innovation and privacy to ensure that these technologies are used in a way that is fair, transparent and accountable. She stated, “We need to think about the type of data that’s being collected, how it’s being collected, how it’s being stored and how we can use that data to identify is someone really engaged in the content?”

Main things to consider include data privacy, data security, transparency, accountability and bias mitigation. Individuals should have control over their data and there should be clear boundaries and lines of accountability while using the “Proof of Personhood” and the “Internet of You” tools and strategies.