AI Identity Group Launched by OpenID Foundation to Address Tech Gaps

Published Date : 7/7/2025 

The OpenID Foundation has formed a new community group to address critical gaps between AI platforms and identity standards, focusing on interoperability, security, and evolving digital identity frameworks. 

The OpenID Foundation has taken a significant step by establishing the Artificial Intelligence Identity Management Community Group, aiming to bridge the growing divide between AI technologies and identity standards. This initiative comes as AI continues to reshape industries like finance, healthcare, and social media, creating a pressing need for cohesive frameworks that ensure security, privacy, and interoperability. The group’s mission is to address the challenges posed by fragmented systems and overlapping standards, which could otherwise lead to inefficiencies and vulnerabilities in digital identity management. n nAs AI systems become more complex, the risk of silos between AI and identity experts increases. These silos could result in the neglect of existing standards, repeating past mistakes in security and privacy. The OpenID Foundation emphasizes that without collaboration, the rapid adoption of AI might outpace the development of robust identity solutions. This could leave gaps in areas like delegated authority, token exchange, and identity assertion, which are critical for secure AI-driven interactions. n nIn April, the OpenID Foundation’s board commissioned a paper exploring the intersection of Agentic AI and identity management. The new community group will build on this research by refining use cases, modularizing roles, and developing recommendations through partnerships with standards bodies like the IETF and industry groups such as the Mobile Connectivity Partnership. This collaborative approach ensures that the group’s findings align with broader industry goals and regulatory requirements. n nOne of the key challenges the group aims to tackle is the lack of clear standards for how AI agents assert their identities to external servers. For example, how should a large language model (LLM) or AI agent authenticate itself when interacting with other systems? Additionally, the group will examine the contents of tokens exchanged between multiple AI agents, a scenario that differs from traditional consumer-identity provider interactions. These issues highlight the need for specialized frameworks tailored to AI-driven ecosystems. n nThe group’s deliverables include documenting use cases for Agentic AI, identifying unaddressed standards gaps, and tracking government AI regulations to ensure alignment with evolving policies. While the community group won’t draft formal standards protocols, its work will inform the OpenID Foundation’s upcoming whitepaper and guide future protocol development. This ensures that any new standards are integrated into the appropriate working groups, maintaining a structured approach to innovation. n nThe group will operate primarily through email discussions, virtual meetings, and in-person gatherings. This flexible format allows for broad participation from experts across the AI and identity communities. By fostering open dialogue, the group aims to create a shared understanding of challenges and opportunities, ultimately driving the development of interoperable solutions. n nIn a separate but related effort, the OpenID Foundation has partnered with the Cloud Signature Consortium (CSC) to develop unified standards for digital credentials and cloud-based signatures. This collaboration seeks to streamline technical requirements for initiatives like the EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet), ensuring a seamless and secure ecosystem for identity verification and electronic signing. The partnership leverages the OpenID Foundation’s expertise in credential protocols and the CSC’s focus on cloud signature standards, creating a powerful synergy for digital identity solutions. n nLuigi Rizzo, chair of the CSC Technical Committee, highlighted the importance of this collaboration. He stated, 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: Why did the OpenID Foundation form the AI Identity Management Community Group?

A: The group was established to address gaps between AI platforms and identity standards, ensuring security, privacy, and interoperability as AI technologies evolve.

Q: What are the main goals of the new community group?

A: The group aims to refine use cases, identify standards gaps, and collaborate with industry partners to develop recommendations for AI-driven identity management.

Q: How does the OpenID Foundation’s collaboration with the Cloud Signature Consortium help digital identity?

A: The partnership streamlines technical requirements for digital credentials and cloud signatures, creating a seamless ecosystem for secure identity verification and electronic signing.

Q: What challenges does the AI Identity Management Group aim to solve?

A: Key challenges include defining how AI agents assert their identities, standardizing token exchanges between AI systems, and aligning with evolving government regulations.

Q: What impact will this have on users and businesses?

A: The initiatives will lead to more secure, interoperable digital identity solutions, reducing fragmentation and enabling seamless adoption of AI-driven services. 

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