James March

In an age where artificial intelligence grows ever more sophisticated, CAPTCHAs—those once-simple puzzles meant to distinguish humans from bots—have become paradoxically difficult for people to solve. Originally designed as digital gatekeepers, these challenge-response tests now raise deeper philosophical and technological questions: If machines can pass as human, what remains to prove our own authenticity?

Through a blend of research, cultural analysis, and speculative inquiry, this work explores the evolution of CAPTCHAs, their role in shaping online identity, and the unsettling reality of a world where automation increasingly mimics human thought and behavior. As bots become smarter and tests become more convoluted, the book examines the shifting boundaries of personhood in the digital age—asking, in the end, what it truly means to be human.

In collaboration with Benya Sutyanyong.

Buy a copy