CAPTCHAs, or Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart, were developed in the early 2000s to distinguish human and bot activity online. They were effective in reducing spam and preventing bots from manipulating online polls. However, CAPTCHAs have become more complex and prevalent over time. Despite advancements in machine learning, CAPTCHAs have not been fully replaced.
According to an article from TheBlaze by Liam Greenwell, CAPTCHA-solving companies exist, relying on cheap labor from economically depressed regions. Workers in these companies make between 25 and 80 cents per hour. The future of CAPTCHAs may involve additional signals to determine humanity, and their primary value now may be in collecting data for AI training. CAPTCHAs are seen as a necessary evil to prevent complete automation and provide free services to users. However, their effectiveness and purpose may change as technology advances.
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