Auto ID
Autonomous Identity
Auto ID introduces a decentralized identity system for both humans and AI, enabling the verification of digital identities and the origin of content in an increasingly AI-integrated world. It fosters trust by providing a secure framework for entities to authenticate content and delegate authority, laying the groundwork for a future where interactions between humans and AI are transparent and trustworthy.
Auto ID
Autonomous Identity (Auto ID) is our solution to the problems an Agentic AI future will present the world. Auto ID is a new form of digital identity, rooted in public key cryptography, that may be issued to both humans and AI. Auto ID is based on the Auto PKI, a decentralized form of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) that anyone or anything may use to register and verify online identity.
Auto ID builds trust by allowing everyone to identify both AI and humans online, authenticate the content they produce, and authorize AI to act on their behalf. Unlike World ID, which may only be issued to humans through the Orb, a biometric scanning device, Auto ID may be issued to any autonomous entity via an online portal or API. Entities may then attach any cryptographic identity claim, such as a World ID, to their Auto ID, allowing them to compose a proof-of-personhood.
What is an Auto ID?
An Autonomous Identity (Auto ID) is new form of universal digital identity that is defined by a handful of basic rules.
Anyone or anything that can be considered an entity may have an Auto ID
Any natural entity, such as human being or institution, may self-issue its own Auto ID
Any artificial entity, such as an AI system, must be issued its Auto ID by a natural entity
Two or more entities working together may jointly issue a composite Auto ID
Every Auto ID must have a unique public identifier, similar to a username
Every Auto ID must have a cryptographic key pair, similar to a password
Every Auto ID must be certified by the issuer’s private key, which may be its own
An Auto ID may include any number of internal claims, which its issuer must attest to
An Auto ID may be linked to any number of external claims, which anyone may attest to
An Auto ID should be registered within a public database, allowing for open verification
What are the benefits of Auto ID?
From these rules, we may derive several key properties of an Auto ID that benefit everyone.
Verifiable: Through the use of digital signatures, control over an Auto ID, and the legitimacy of any granted claims may be authenticated by anyone with the related public keys.
Portable: An Auto ID is a self-contained digital document that is not inherently tied to any particular online provider or public registry, allowing it to easily move across platforms.
Backwards Compatible: Auto IDs simple structure is compatible with X.509 Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificates and the Open ID Connect (OIDC) account model.
Secure: Using mutual Transport Layer Security (mTLS) , any two entities with an Auto ID may establish an authenticated and encrypted communication channel over a public network.
Interoperable: Since an Auto ID is based on a common, open standard, any entity with an Auto ID may grant claims against any other entity
Linkable: An Auto ID may act as a container for any number of identity claims or credentials, allowing it to act as a universal digital passport for any type of digital identity.
Accountable: Since every interaction between entities relies on digital signatures, which are non-repudiable, all entities may be held accountable for their actions.
Revocable: If an issuer chooses to register an Auto ID in a public database, then it may be revoked at any time, in a manner that is verifiable by anyone.
Recoverable: if the entity holding an Auto ID loses access to its private key, then it may be issued a new one, either by the issuing entity or, if registered, by the database.
Traceable: If an Auto ID is registered in a public database, then provenance for its ownership and existence may be clearly established and verified by anyone.
Who may hold an Auto ID?
Since Auto ID is designed to maximize flexibility and accessibility, it may be issued to any type of abstract or concrete entity which has a digital footprint. Some examples include:
Any human being may hold its own Auto ID
Any human organization or institution may hold its own Auto ID
Any online service or platform may hold its own Auto ID
Any user of an online platform may be issued an Auto ID
Any software application may be issued an Auto ID by its creator
Any online platform may issue an API key to any developer as an Auto ID
Any AI model may be issued an Auto ID by its creator
Any instance of an AI model exposed to a user, may be issued an Auto ID
Any autonomous AI software agent may be issued an Auto ID
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