A new research paper, co-authored by researchers from OpenAI, Microsoft, Harvard, Oxford, and around 20 other organizations, proposes the concept of 'personhood credentials' as a method to verify human identity online without compromising privacy. This initiative aims to counter the increasing challenge of distinguishing between real users and AI-generated bots, as AI technology becomes more sophisticated. The paper suggests using government IDs, biometrics, and social graph activity to issue these credentials, which platforms can then validate using zero-knowledge proof. The research highlights the importance of privacy-preserving tools in maintaining data sovereignty while addressing AI-powered deception.