Reddit is stepping up its game to ensure that interactions on the platform are truly human. In a recent post, CEO Steve Huffman announced plans to require verification for accounts deemed suspiciously ‘automated or fishy’. This move comes as artificial intelligence bots loom over the internet landscape.

Huffman explained that this verification process will kick in only when Reddit suspects an account is run by a bot, a scenario he described as “rare”. However, if an account cannot prove its humanity, it risks being restricted. The verification methods currently on the table include passkeys and third-party biometric services like iris scanning.

While these tools aim to maintain privacy, Huffman highlighted that they won’t expose personal identity or activity data. He noted that government ID checks are a last resort, due to their lack of security and privacy. Reddit’s commitment seems to be in ensuring users know when they’re interacting with another human, despite the creeping presence of AI.

The announcement raises questions about the future of online interaction. Will we soon need to prove our humanity more often? And if so, what does that say about an internet increasingly dominated by machines?

In Huffman’s words: “I think the Internet needs verification solutions like this”. Perhaps it's time for us all to start carrying digital ID cards just in case.