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Mastering Loyalty Programs: 6 Killer Options + Pro Advice

October 8, 2021
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Permission
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Stories of free flights, incredible deals, and “just used my points” are common these days. And for people who aren’t into loyalty programs, those who manage to travel so much on a low budget almost have this mystical aura about them. How do they do it? What do you mean she got a free flight and 4-star hotel for nothing?

Loyalty programs are designed to get you to come back to businesses, and they can be cumbersome and draining if you’re in too many or don’t choose the right ones, but if you know how to play the game, you can save yourself thousands of dollars on purchases you would have made anyway.

One of the keys to winning in loyalty programs is staying on top of the latest offers and loyalty programs. And while points and cash back programs have dominated the space for years, we’re going to show you how to both make the most of existing loyalty programs and show you what the future of loyalty programs looks like — that way you can stay on top of things.

Let’s go!

Common Types of Loyalty Programs

Since loyalty programs are any sort of program that rewards customers for purchases, consistency, engagement, referrals, etc. There are a lot of types.

Here are a few of the most popular:

  1. Points programs like credit card or hotel points
  2. Subscription programs like unlimited monthly coffee, Regal Unlimited, or Amazon Prime
  3. Referral programs like The Hustle’s referral system
  4. Tier-based programs like Chick-fil-A
  5. Cashback programs like Capital One’s Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
  6. Perks programs like Kroger’s gas discount
  7. And many more!

There is an abundance of loyalty programs these days. So the trick isn’t finding them, it’s deciding which ones to use.

Why Should You Join Loyalty Programs?

When used correctly, loyalty programs save (or give) you more money than you would have had without them.

For example, if you spend $500 a month on groceries, have a credit card that gives you 2 points (worth a cent each) for every dollar spent, and pay off your credit card in full each month, you would get an automatic $10 back each month for doing exactly what you do anyway.

Or take credit card bonus fees. If you’ve been saving up for a new entertainment system that costs around $3,000, and instead of paying cash you signed up for a new credit card that had a “sign-up offer” that gives you $600 in points after spending $3,000 in the first two months, you could get $600 back on a purchase you were already going to make.

By optimizing your spending around the highest value programs whose points or rewards can be used on purchases you were already going to make anyway and strategically utilizing sign-up bonuses, you can save thousands of dollars over a few years, pay for flights, get free hotel rooms, and more.

It takes a bit of work to get set up and switch at the right times, but it’s still well worth the effort you put in.

The 6 Best Loyalty Programs You Should Consider Joining

Again, loyalty programs are designed to get you to spend more, but if you’re aware of that fact, you don’t have to.

By only joining programs that directly impact your existing spending, you can minimize the temptation to overspend / nullify the value of your rewards.

With that in mind, here are some of the best loyalty programs out there. We’ve included a diverse list — that way you could feasibly make a good decision by just going with all of these. These options are more useful when starting out than 5 different airline programs, for example.

Note: These are based off of NerdWallet’s 2021 Winners, personal experience, and other misc. research. The program details below were accurate at the time of the writing but may not remain the same.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Ideal for casual domestic flyers who like to take one other person on their trips.

While you won’t be able to fly anywhere, anytime, the rewards system of Alaska Airlines is fantastic. If you make $2,000 of purchases within 90 days, you get 40,000 bonus miles (around $440) and the Annual Companion Fare, which can drop a ticket for a friend down to $99 + fees. Add in rewards based on miles instead of cash and 3x miles for all Alaska Airlines bookings, and you can see why people love this loyalty program.

Reward Currency: Alaska Miles

Key Aspects:

  1. Reward based on miles flown instead of cash spent, which rewards smarter booking choices
  2. Can transfer points to Emirates and Cathay Pacific and other partners to 1,000+ destinations
  3. $75 annual fee
  4. 3 miles for every $1 on Alaska Airlines flights, 1 mile for $1 for all other purchases
  5. Free checked bags for up to 6 guests on the same reservation
  6. No foreign transaction fees
Amazon Prime

Best for frequent online shoppers who want quick deliveries.

You may not think about Amazon Prime as a loyalty program, but that’s because it is so good at what it does that it escapes the label. Amazon does everything they can to make you lose money by not being a part of Prime (assuming you shop at Amazon regularly).

From Prime video, to free shipping, to lower prices in Amazon, using Amazon and not having Prime doesn’t make any sense, and that’s the point.

Reward Currency: None

Key Aspects:

  1. Free two-day shipping on Prime eligible items
  2. Prime discounts
  3. Early access to deals
  4. Prime video streaming
  5. Pay monthly at $12.99 or yearly at $119
Chick-fil-A

Good for anyone who eats Chick-fil-A more than 2x a month.

Chick-fil-A, regardless of your opinion of fast food and their enterprise, is a brilliant business. They are superb at cleanliness, timeliness, consistency, and rewarding their customers.

Their loyalty program is legendary and has some really clever mechanisms to keep you coming back. So if you get down with Chick-fil-A at least more than 2x per month, then check it out.

Reward Currency: Points

Key Aspects:

  1. Three Tiers: Member, Silver Member, Red Member
  2. Points are rewarded for cash spent
  3. Birthday rewards
  4. Has giveaways for downloading the app and signing in consistently
  5. Mobile ordering through app makes pick-up easier
  6. Higher levels let you give away your gifts to others
  7. The higher level you are, the more points you earn per $1
  8. Higher levels have more say on the menu items Chick-fil-A releases
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

A good “jack-of-all-trades” travel card for people who tend to fly on different airlines and use different hotels.

Capital One’s Venture Rewards Credit Card has been a big player in the credit card points game for a bit. The points are easy to earn and use, and you can transfer or spend your points on just about anything.

Reward Currency: Miles

Key Aspects:

  1. 60,000 mile bonus after spending $3,000 in the first month (~ $600 value)
  2. 2 miles per dollar spent on anything and everything
  3. $95 annual fee
  4. Best value when you redeem for travel
Permission

Good for anyone who wants to get paid for doing what they already do on the web.

Here’s the deal. Almost everything you do on the internet involves and leaves data, but since the dawn of the internet, YOU haven’t been paid for the use of your data. Meanwhile, huge internet companies have made massive fortunes off of your information.

Permission prescribes to a simple but radical idea: shouldn’t you get paid for your data?

And the best part? You don’t have to change any of your habits. You join Permission, and companies reward you with crypto in return for your time and attention. It’s that simple.

Reward Currency: ASK

Key Aspects:

  1. A new type of loyalty program driven by crypto rewards
  2. A browser extension that lets you earn crypto based on your existing searches and habits
  3. Earn crypto for engaging with ads and content
  4. Is expanding its reach to become the backbone of loyalty programs everywhere everywhere, making it easier and more flexible for earners to redeem across brands.

Start earning from your data (for free)

Regal Unlimited

Great for any movie buffs who see more than 2 movies a month.

This is Regal’s answer to the spectacular fall of MoviePass. For ~$20/month you can watch as many movies as you’d like and earn on concession purchases. Since movies cost between $12-15 these days, if you go to at least two movies a month, you’ll be saving money.

Reward Currency: Crown Club Credits

Key Aspects:

  1. Different tiers open up more and more theaters, but the middle tier for $20/month is usually more than enough.
  2. Earn credits on all purchases that can be redeemed for free tickets and food. Pay for your friends’ tickets to rack up points!
  3. Unlimited movies per month, including new releases.
  4. Fees can apply for booking less than an hour in advance.

How to be a Loyalty Program Pro

Here are some tricks of the trade from loyalty program pros.

Make sure the annual fees make sense for your spending.

If you aren’t going to earn more in points than the annual fee, don’t go for it. That would just mean more unnecessary bills. It’s easiest to get hit by unnecessary annual fees when you have a lot of cards, so make sure whichever ones you have you’re actually using!

Note many credit card companies will cancel or reduce your fee if you call them to cancel shortly after noticing an annual fee charge.

Ditch the cash.

The more you spend on your card, the more points you earn. Cash should become a last resort — it’s a pointless transaction!

Maximize your earnings by choosing which card to spend with on particular categories.

Some cards earn you more on food. Other more on flights. Know which cards are best spent where so you can maximize your earnings.

Choose loyalty programs that fit into your existing habits

The point of loyalty programs is to get you to spend more, but you can outwit them by only choosing cards that complement your existing spending habits. If you already fly multiple times a year, there’s no reason not to earn from them, but if you don’t already shop at Nordstrom, maybe you don’t need their card.

Get your credit score to above 720

Most loyalty programs and good credit cards with rewards require decent credit. If you aren’t above 720 yet, put the time and work in to get there before going down the loyalty program rabbit hole.

Do not go into debt over points

No points are worth suffering from the atrocious interest rates on credit cards. Whatever you do, do NOT carry a balance! This excludes particular people with good handles on leverage, but anytime you rack up interest you are cutting right back into your point profits and likely going in the red.

Take advantage of welcome bonuses

Welcome bonuses are critical to earning from rewards programs. Line up your big purchases with a new card to earn big.

Stack points

Use your best food-to-points credit card to plug into your Chick-fil-A rewards program. Use your favorite flight card for Regal Unlimited — find as many ways as you can to stack your favorite cards and programs.

Avoid opening a bunch of credit lines before big purchases

Credit card churning and loyalty programs can mean opening up more lines of credit, which can negatively affect your score. If you’re going to buy a house or car in the near future, you may want to hold off.

Respect the 5/24 rule

While not official, many credit card companies begin to be more cautious with users who open up more than 5 cards in two years (or 24 months), so it’s best practice to stay at or under this split.

Amazing Resources for Credit Card Churning

When you join multiple programs, things can get a bit confusing. Here are some tools and resources that will help you make the most of your programs.

  1. NerdWallet — one of the best rewards blogs out there
  2. AwardWallet — track all of your programs and points in one place
  3. ThePointsGuy — amazing blog for travel point optimization

The Best Loyalty Program is a Universal Loyalty Program

The new era of loyalty programs has arrived

Imagine an internet where every single online transaction, across any brand, in any store, earns you a single type of reward currency that you can spend on more products, or trade for other global currencies (including dollars).

That is the future of loyalty programs. A world where the myriad of points, miles, cashback dollars, and rewards dissolves into a single reward currency that everyone is familiar with. One wallet, one currency, across an unlimited number of brands.

Brands will still be able to create their own unique incentives founded in this currency. And users can earn more whenever they want by engaging in specific actions encouraged by brands, like voluntarily engaging with ads or giving a company more information about themselves.

So if you’re a user who wants to get paid for your data, or a brand looking to add in the ASK cryptocurrency to your incentives, now is the time.

See what we’re all about.

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Insights

Online Safety and the Limits of AI Moderation: What Parents Can Learn from Roblox

Nov 10th, 2025
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{time} read time

Roblox isn’t just a game — it’s a digital playground with tens of millions of daily users, most of them children between 9 and 15 years old.

For many, it’s the first place they build, chat, and explore online. But as with every major platform serving young audiences, keeping that experience safe is a monumental challenge.

Recent lawsuits and law-enforcement reports highlight how complex that challenge has become. Roblox reported more than 13,000 cases of sextortion and child exploitation in 2023 alone — a staggering figure that reflects not negligence, but the sheer scale of what all digital ecosystems now face.

The Industry’s Safety Challenge

Most parents assume Roblox and similar platforms are constantly monitored. In reality, the scale is overwhelming: millions of messages, interactions, and virtual spaces every hour. Even the most advanced AI moderation systems can miss the subtleties of manipulation and coded communication that predators use.

Roblox has publicly committed to safety and continues to invest heavily in AI moderation and human review — efforts that deserve recognition. Yet as independent researcher Ben Simon (“Ruben Sim”) and others have noted, moderation at this scale is an arms race that demands new tools and deeper collaboration across the industry.

By comparison, TikTok employs more than 40,000 human moderators — over ten times Roblox’s reported staff — despite having roughly three times the daily active users. The contrast underscores a reality no platform escapes: AI moderation is essential, but insufficient on its own.

When Games Become Gateways

Children as young as six have encountered inappropriate content, virtual strip clubs, or predatory advances within user-generated spaces. What often begins as a friendly in-game chat can shift into private messages, promises of Robux (Roblox’s digital currency), or requests for photos and money.

And exploitation isn’t always sexual. Many predators use financial manipulation, convincing kids to share account credentials or make in-game purchases on their behalf.

For parents, Roblox’s family-friendly design can create a false sense of security. The lesson is not that Roblox is unsafe, but that no single moderation system can substitute for parental awareness and dialogue.

Even when interactions seem harmless, kids can give away more than they realize.

A name, a birthday, or a photo might seem trivial, but in the wrong hands it can open the door to identity theft.

The Hidden Threat: Child Identity Theft

Indeed, a lesser-known but equally serious risk is identity theft.

When children overshare personal details — their full name, birthdate, school, address, or even family information — online or with strangers, that data can be used to impersonate them.

Because minors rarely have active financial records, child identity theft often goes undetected for years, sometimes until they apply for a driver’s license, a student loan, or their first job. By then, the damage can be profound: financial loss, credit score damage, and emotional stress. Restoring a stolen identity can require years of effort, documentation, and legal action.

The best defense is prevention.

Teach children early why their personal information should never be shared publicly or in private chats — and remind them that real friends never need to know everything about you to play together online.

AI Moderation Needs Human Partnership

AI moderation remains reactive.

Algorithms flag suspicious language, but they can’t interpret tone, hesitation, or the subtle erosion of boundaries that signals grooming.

Predators evolve faster than filters, which means the answer isn’t more AI for the platform, but smarter AI for the family.

The Limits of Centralized AI

The truth is, today’s moderation AI isn’t really designed to protect people; it’s designed to protect platforms. Its job is to reduce liability, flag content, and preserve brand safety at scale. But in doing so, it often treats users as data points, not individuals.

This is the paradox of centralized AI safety: the bigger it gets, the less it understands.

It can process millions of messages a second, but not the intent behind them. It can delete an account in a millisecond, but can’t tell whether it’s protecting a child or punishing a joke.

That’s why the future of safety can’t live inside one corporate algorithm. It has to live with the individual — in personal AI agents that see context, respect consent, and act in the user’s best interest. Instead of a single moderation brain governing millions, every family deserves an AI partner that watches with understanding, not suspicion.

A system that exists to protect them, not the platform.

The Future of Child Safety: Collaboration, Not Competition

The Roblox story underscores an industry-wide truth: safety can’t be one-size-fits-all.
Every child’s online experience is different and protecting it requires both platform vigilance and parent empowerment.

At Permission, we believe the next generation of online safety will come from collaboration, not competition. Instead of replacing platform systems, our personal AI agents complement them — giving parents visibility and peace of mind while supporting the broader ecosystem of trust that companies like Roblox are working to build.

From one-size-fits-all moderation to one-AI-per-family insight — in harmony with the platforms kids already love.

Each family’s AI guardian can learn their child’s unique patterns, highlight potential risks across apps, and summarize activity in clear reports that parents control. That’s what we mean by ethical visibility — insight without invasion.

You can explore this philosophy further in our upcoming piece:
➡️ Monitoring Without Spying: How to Build Digital Trust With Your Child (link coming soon)

What Parents Can Do Now

Until personalized AI guardians are widespread, families can take practical steps today:

  • Talk early and often. Make online safety part of everyday conversation.

  • Ask, don’t accuse. Curiosity builds trust; interrogation breeds secrecy.

  • Play together. Experience games and chat environments firsthand.

  • Set boundaries collaboratively. Agree on rules, timing, and social norms.

  • Teach red flags. Encourage your child to tell you when something feels wrong — without fear of punishment.

A Shared Responsibility

The recent Roblox lawsuits remind all of us just how complicated parenting in the digital world can feel. It’s not just about rules or apps: it’s about guiding your kids through a space that changes faster than any of us could have imagined! 

And the truth is, everyone involved wants the same thing: a digital world where kids can explore safely, confidently, and with the freedom to just be kids.

At Permission, we’re committed to building an AI that understands what matters, respects your family’s values and boundaries, and puts consent at the center of every interaction.

Announcements

Meet the Permission Agent: The Future of Data Ownership

Sep 10th, 2025
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For years, Permission has championed a simple idea: your data has value, and you deserve to be rewarded for it. Our mission is clear: to enable individuals to own their data and be compensated when it’s used. Until now, we’ve made that possible through our opt-in experience, giving you the choice to engage and earn.

But the internet is evolving, and so are we.

Now, with the rise of AI, our vision has never been more relevant. The world is waking up to the fact that data is the fuel driving digital intelligence, and individuals should be the ones who benefit directly from it.

The time is now. AI has created both the urgency and the infrastructure to finally make our vision real. The solution is the "Permission Agent: The Personal AI that Pays You."

What is the Permission Agent?

The Permission Agent is your own AI-powered digital assistant - it knows you, works for you, and turns your data into a revenue stream.

Running seamlessly in your browser, it manages your consent across the digital world while identifying the moments when your data has value, making sure you are the one who gets rewarded.

In essence, it acts as your personal representative in the online economy, constantly spotting opportunities, securing your rewards, and giving you back control of your digital life.

Human data powers the next generation of AI, and for it to be trusted it must be verified, auditable, and permissioned. Most importantly, it must reward the people who provide it. With the Permission Agent, this vision becomes reality: your data is safeguarded, your consent is respected, and you are compensated every step of the way.

This is more than a seamless way to earn. It’s a bold step toward a future where the internet is rebuilt around trust, transparency, and fairness - with people at the center.

Passive Earning and Compounded Referral Rewards

With the Permission Agent, earning isn’t just smarter - it’s continuous and always working in the background. As you browse normally, your Agent quietly unlocks opportunities and secures rewards on your behalf.

Beyond this passive earning, the value multiplies when you invite friends to Permission. Instead of a one-time referral bonus, you’ll earn a percentage of everything your friends earn, for life. Each time they browse, engage, and collect rewards, you benefit too — and the more friends you bring in, the greater your earnings become.

All rewards are paid in $ASK, the token that powers the Permission ecosystem. Whether you choose to redeem, trade for cash or crypto, or save and accumulate, the more you collect, the more value you unlock.

Changes to Permission Platform

Our mission has always been to create a fair internet - one where people truly own their data and get rewarded for it. The opt-in experience was an important first step, opening the door to a world where individuals could engage and earn. But now it’s time to evolve.

Effective October 1st, the following platform changes will be implemented:

  • Branded daily offers will no longer appear in their current form.  
  • The Earn Marketplace will be transformed into Personalize Your AI - a new way to earn by taking actions that help your Agent better understand you, bringing you even greater personalization and value.
  • The browser extension will be the primary surface for earning from your data, and, should you choose to activate passive earning, you’ll benefit from ongoing rewards as your Agent works for you in the background.

With the Permission Agent, you gain a proactive partner that works for you around the clock — unlocking rewards, protecting your data, and ensuring you benefit from every opportunity,  without needing to constantly make manual decisions.

How to Get Started

Getting set up takes just a few minutes:

  1. Download the Permission Agent (browser extension)

  2. Activate it to claim your ASK token bonus

  3. Browse as usual — your Agent works in the background to find earning opportunities for you

The more you use it, the more it learns how to unlock rewards and maximize the value of your time online.

A New Era of the Internet

This isn’t just a new tool - it’s a turning point.

The Permission Agent marks the beginning of a digital world where people truly own their data, decide when and how to share it, and are rewarded every step of the way.

Insights

Web5 and the Age of AI: Why It’s Time to Own Your Data

Jun 25th, 2025
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The Internet Wasn’t Built for You

The internet has always promised more than it delivered. Web1 gave us access. Web2 gave us interactivity. Web3 introduced decentralization.

But none of them fully delivered on the promise of giving users actual control over their identity and data. Each iteration has made technical strides, but has often traded one form of centralization for another. The early internet was academic and open but difficult to use. Web2 simplified access and enabled user-generated content, but consolidated power within a handful of massive platforms. Web3 attempted to shift control back to individuals, but in many cases it only replaced platform monopolies with protocol monopolies, often steered by investors rather than users.

This brings us to the newest proposal in the evolution of the internet: Web5. It is not simply a new version number. It is an entirely new architecture and a philosophical reset. Web5 is not about adding features to the existing internet. It is about reclaiming its original promise: a digital environment where people are the primary stakeholders and where privacy, data ownership, and user autonomy are fundamental principles rather than afterthoughts.

What Is Web5?

Web5 is a proposed new iteration of the internet that emphasizes user sovereignty, decentralized identity, and data control at the individual level. The term was introduced by TBD, a division of Block (formerly Square), led by Jack Dorsey. The concept merges the usability and familiarity of Web2 with the decentralization aims of Web3, but seeks to go further by eliminating dependencies on centralized platforms, third-party identities, and even the token-centric incentives common in the Web3 space.

At the heart of Web5 is a recognition that true decentralization cannot exist unless individuals can own and manage their identity and data independently of the platforms and applications they use. Web5 imagines a future where your digital identity is yours alone and cannot be revoked, sold, or siloed by anyone else. Your data lives in a secure location you control, and you grant or revoke access to it on your terms.

In essence, Web5 is not about redesigning the internet from scratch. It is about rewriting its relationship with the people who use it.

The Building Blocks of Web5

Web5 is built on several core components that enable a truly user-centric and decentralized experience. These include:

Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs)

DIDs are globally unique identifiers created, owned, and controlled by individuals. Unlike traditional usernames, email addresses, or OAuth logins, DIDs are not tied to any centralized provider. They are cryptographic identities that function independently of any specific platform.

In Web5, your DID serves as your universal passport. You can use it to authenticate yourself across different services without having to create new accounts or hand over personal data to each provider. More importantly, your DID is yours alone. No company or platform can take it away from you, lock you out, or monetize it without your permission.

Verifiable Credentials (VCs)

Verifiable credentials are digitally signed claims about a person or entity. Think of them as secure, cryptographically verifiable versions of driver’s licenses, university degrees, or customer loyalty cards.

These credentials are stored in a user’s own digital wallet and are linked to their DID. They can be presented to other parties as needed, without requiring a centralized intermediary. For example, instead of submitting your passport to a website for identity verification, you could present a VC that confirms your citizenship status or age, verified by an issuer you trust.

This reduces the need for repetitive, invasive data collection and helps prevent identity theft, fraud, and data misuse.

Decentralized Web Nodes (DWNs)

DWNs are user-controlled data stores that operate in a peer-to-peer manner. They serve as both storage and messaging layers, allowing individuals to manage and share their data without relying on centralized cloud infrastructure.

In practice, this means that your messages, files, and personal information live on your own node. Applications can request access to specific data from your DWN, and you decide whether to grant or deny that request. If you stop using the app or no longer trust it, you simply revoke access. Your data stays with you.

DWNs make it possible to separate data from applications. This creates a clear boundary between ownership and access and transforms the way digital services are designed.

Decentralized Web Apps (DWAs)

DWAs are applications that run in a web environment but operate differently than traditional apps. Instead of storing user data in their own back-end infrastructure, DWAs are designed to request and interact with data that resides in a user’s DWN.

This architectural shift changes the power dynamic between users and developers. In Web2, developers collect and control your data. In Web5, they build applications that respond to your data preferences. The app becomes a guest in your ecosystem, not the other way around.

Web5 vs. Web3: A Clearer Distinction

While Web3 and Web5 share some vocabulary, they differ significantly in their goals and structure.

Web3 has been a meaningful step toward decentralization, particularly in finance and asset ownership. However, it often recreates centralization through the influence of early investors, reliance on large protocols, and opaque governance structures. Web5 aims to eliminate these dependencies altogether.

Why Web5 Matters in a Post-Privacy Era

Data privacy is no longer a niche concern. It is a mainstream issue affecting billions of people. From the fallout of the Cambridge Analytica scandal to the enactment of global privacy regulations like GDPR and CPRA, there is a growing consensus that the existing digital model is broken.

Web5 does not wait for regulatory pressure to enforce ethical practices. It bakes them into the infrastructure. By placing individuals at the center of data ownership and removing the need for constant surveillance-based monetization, Web5 allows for the creation of a digital ecosystem that respects boundaries, preferences, and consent by design.

In a world where AI is increasingly powered by massive data collection, Web5 offers a powerful counterbalance. It allows individuals to decide whether their data is included in training models, marketing campaigns, or platform personalization strategies.

How AI Supercharges the Promise of Web5

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping every part of the internet — from the way content is generated to how decisions are made about what we see, buy, and believe. But the power behind AI doesn’t come from the models themselves. It comes from the data they’re trained on.

Today, that data is often taken without consent. Every click, view, scroll, and purchase becomes raw material for algorithms, enriching platforms while users are left with no control and no compensation.

This is where Web5 comes in.

By combining the decentralization goals of Web3 with the intelligence of AI, Web5 offers a blueprint for a more ethical digital future — one where individuals decide how their data is used, who can access it, and whether it should train an AI at all. In a Web5 world, your data lives in your own vault, tied to your decentralized identity. You can choose to share it, restrict it, or even monetize it.

That’s the real promise: an internet that respects your privacy and pays you for your data.

Rather than resisting AI, Web5 gives us a way to integrate it responsibly. It ensures that intelligence doesn’t come at the cost of autonomy — and that the next era of the internet is built around consent, not extraction.

The Role of Permission.io in the Web5 Movement

At Permission.io, we have always believed that individuals should benefit from the value their data creates. Our platform is built around the idea of earning through consent. Web5 provides the technological framework that aligns perfectly with this philosophy.

We do not believe that privacy and innovation are mutually exclusive. Instead, we believe that ethical data practices are the foundation of a more effective, sustainable, and human-centered internet. That is why our $ASK token allows users to earn rewards for data sharing in a transparent, voluntary manner.

As Web5 standards evolve, we will continue to integrate its principles into our ecosystem. Whether through decentralized identity, personal data vaults, or privacy-first interfaces, Permission.io will remain at the forefront of giving users control and compensation in a world driven by AI and data.

Conclusion: The Internet Is Growing Up

The internet is entering its fourth decade. Its adolescence was defined by explosive growth, centralization, and profit-first platforms. Its adulthood must be defined by ethics, sovereignty, and resilience.

Web5 is not just a concept. It is a movement toward restoring balance between platforms and people. It challenges developers to build differently. It invites users to reclaim their autonomy. And it sets a precedent for how we should think about identity, ownership, and trust in a digitally saturated world.

Web5 is not inevitable. It is a choice. But it is a choice that more people are ready to make.

Own Your Data. Build the Future.

Permission.io is proud to be a participant in the new internet—one where you are not the product, but the owner. If you believe that the future of the internet should be user-driven, privacy-first, and reward-based, you are in the right place.

Start earning with Permission.


Protect your identity.


Take control of your data in Web5 and the age of AI.

Insights

AI Has a Data Problem. Identic AI Has the Fix.

May 15th, 2025
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Artificial Intelligence is advancing faster than anyone imagined. But underneath the innovation lies a fundamental problem: it runs on stolen data.

Your personal searches, clicks, purchases, and habits have been quietly scraped, repackaged, and monetized, all without your consent. Big Tech built today’s most powerful AI systems on a mountain of behavioral data that users never agreed to give. It’s efficient, yes. But it’s also broken.

Identic AI offers a new path. A vision of artificial intelligence that doesn’t exploit you, but respects you. One where privacy, accuracy, and transparency aren’t afterthoughts…they’re the foundation.

The Current Landscape of AI

AI is reshaping industries at breakneck speed. From advertising to healthcare to finance, algorithms are optimizing everything, including targeting, diagnostics, forecasting, and more. We are witnessing smarter search, personalized shopping, and hyper-automated digital experiences.

But what powers all of this intelligence? The answer is simple: data. Every interaction, swipe, and search adds fuel to the machine. The smarter AI gets, the more it demands. And that’s where the cracks begin to show.

The Data Problem in AI

Most of today’s AI models are trained on data that was never truly given. It is scraped from websites, logged from apps, and extracted from your online behavior without explicit consent. Then it is bought, sold, and resold with zero transparency and zero benefit to the person who created it.

This system isn’t just flawed; it is exploitative. The very people generating the data are left out of the value chain. Their information powers billion-dollar innovations, while they are kept in the dark.

Identic AI: A New Paradigm for Ethical AI

Identic AI is a concept that reimagines the foundation of artificial intelligence. Instead of running on unconsented data, it operates on permissioned information, which is data that users have explicitly agreed to share.

It’s powered by zero-party data, voluntarily and transparently contributed by individuals. This creates not only a more ethical system, but a smarter one. Data shared intentionally is often more accurate, more contextual, and more valuable.

Identic AI ensures transparency from end to end. Users know exactly what they’re sharing, how it’s being used, and what they gain in return.

How Identic AI Solves Major AI Challenges

Privacy Compliance
Identic AI is designed to align with global privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA. Instead of retrofitting compliance, it begins with consent by default.

Trust and Transparency
It eliminates the "black box" dynamic. Users can see how their data is used to train and fuel AI models, which restores confidence in the process.

Data Accuracy
Willingly shared data is more reliable. When users understand the purpose, they provide better inputs, which leads to better outputs.

Fair Compensation
Identic AI proposes a model where data contributors are no longer invisible. They are participants, and they are rewarded for their contributions.

The Future with Identic AI

Imagine a digital world where every interaction is a clear value exchange. Where people aren't just data points but stakeholders. Where AI systems respect boundaries instead of bypassing them.

Identic AI sets the precedent for this future. It proves that artificial intelligence can be powerful without being predatory. Performance and ethics are not mutually exclusive; they are mutually reinforcing.

How Permission Powers the Identic AI Movement

At Permission.io, we’re building the infrastructure to bring this model to life. Our platform enables users to earn ASK tokens in exchange for sharing data, with full knowledge, full control, and full transparency.

We’re laying the groundwork for AI systems that run on consent, not coercion. Our mission is to create a more equitable internet, where users don’t just use technology. They benefit from it.

Your Data. Your Terms. Your Share of the AI Economy.

If you’re tired of giving your data away for free, join a platform that puts you back in control.

Sign up at Permission.ai and start earning with every click, every search, and every insight you choose to share.