Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly person-like, making it difficult to tell if one is interacting with an individual or the technology itself.
So said Fabian Bodensteiner, the managing director of World Foundation Europe, as he outlined three key trends that will redefine how humans engage with technology in 2025 and beyond. Here are the three trends:
1. Human-AI partnership
In an email to Twentytwo13, Bodensteiner said AI is embedded across industries – whether in highly technical fields like robotics, or administrative roles such as customer service, marketing, and recruitment.
He added that AI is no longer just a passive tool as it actively collaborates with people to enhance efficiency, playing a role much like a virtual assistant by automating routine tasks, allowing individuals to focus on higher-value goals that require human judgment and expertise.
“Reports show that 84 per cent of Malaysians have integrated AI into their workflow, primarily to save time and improve efficiency. It also highlights another key finding where 77 per cent of Malaysian professionals struggle with time and energy constraints in completing their work. These insights project the growing demand for AI as a supporting tool and spotlight the human-AI partnership as an emerging trend,” said Bodensteiner.
“However, the ultimate goal of AI isn’t to replace humans, and as AI continues to reshape productivity across organisations, authenticity and transparency must remain at the core of this evolution.
“The key is not just innovation, but responsible integration – where technology serves as a partner, not a replacement,” he added.
2. Proof of human is missing piece in AI-driven world
Bodensteiner said verifying that a digital action is performed by a real, unique individual – rather than a bot or AI – was once an afterthought. With AI-powered bots increasingly being used for both productive and harmful purposes, verification has become essential.
“Automation is now a staple in customer engagement, but it has also contributed to rising concerns about misinformation, deepfakes, and cybersecurity risks,” he said.
“How urgent is this issue? In just one quarter, cyberattacks surged by 10 per cent from Q2 to Q3 of 2024, with botnet-related attacks flagged as a growing cybersecurity threat. The rise of AI-generated entities has made it increasingly difficult to distinguish between human and automated interactions. This has led to the growing importance of proof-of-human solutions – such as digital authentication – to help combat AI-related threats.”
He added that a 2024 report published on arXiv entitled ‘Breaking reCAPTCHAv2’ indicated that modern AI systems can now easily bypass traditional CAPTCHA challenges for online human authentication, highlighting the urgent need for proof-of-human solutions to be integrated into digital interactions.
“By 2025, the adoption of human-verification technologies is expected to become an industry standard – ensuring digital interactions remain safe, transparent, and fundamentally human-centric.”
3. Return of real human network
Bodensteiner said when the internet first emerged, online interactions were largely assumed to be between real individuals. However, as automation becomes more prevalent, the line between humans and AI has blurred, making online interactions feel less certain.
“A recent survey found that Malaysians are increasingly concerned about AI-related threats, with 54 per cent worried about identity theft, 45 per cent about deepfakes, and 32 per cent about phishing. This underscores the importance of creating virtual spaces where trust is not assumed but actively validated.
“To address this, digital platforms are integrating stronger verification mechanisms to ensure interactions occur between actual people. Social networks, online marketplaces, and dating platforms are adopting identity verification and proof-of-personhood technologies to foster safer, more authentic online experiences.”
He added these solutions aimed to return control to individuals, enabling them to engage in digital spaces where “trust is a given” and underlies every seamlessly performed transaction.
“A shift towards networks without bots is driving the resurgence of peer-to-peer communities. Whether for social platforms, ticket sales, or online dating, ensuring that only real people – not bots – shape interactions makes online experiences more authentic and secure.
“Beyond security, this shift also enhances accessibility and inclusion, helping create a digital world where everyone can participate without the interference of automated bots.
“As AI continues to shape our lives, preserving spaces for genuine human connection has never been more important. The future of digital interaction depends on ensuring that technology enhances – not replaces – real human engagement,” he added.
