AI is evolving rapidly, with NEAR providing support for smart applications and RENDER supplying the underlying computing resources. It seems everything is accelerating.

But have you noticed, the real bottleneck is no longer speed. It’s identity.

Imagine a autonomous system making decisions without knowing who issued the instructions, where the data comes from, or whether it can be trusted. That scenario is terrifying. It needs to know—who initiated this action, what data was used, and whether this data is authentic.

IOTA’s solution is to use decentralized identifiers and verifiable credentials. The core logic is simple: prove identity and permissions without exposing personal privacy. No central database black hole, no endless repeated verifications. It’s purely cryptographic proof, usable across platforms and regions.

Here’s the key—when AI upgrades from a tool to a decision-making system, identity verification is no longer just a feature. It becomes the fundamental infrastructure of the entire system. Someone must build this layer on the ground. IOTA has been quietly doing this.