Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how businesses operate, but the companies pulling ahead aren’t the ones replacing people. They’re the ones augmenting them. That was the central theme of VC Magazine’s latest feature on human-centered AI, where Wink CEO Deepak Jain weighed in on one of the most critical challenges emerging in AI-driven commerce: trust.

As AI agents begin making decisions, recommendations, and even transactions on behalf of users, businesses need new ways to verify who, or what, is acting inside their systems. Deepak underscored that the issue isn’t about blocking bots, it’s about knowing which agents are legitimate.

“Merchants don’t have to block bots; they need a way to know which agents are legitimate. That’s the trust layer Wink provides,” Jain said.

The article highlights how identity-linked biometrics are becoming essential infrastructure for the next era of digital commerce. By pairing AI with strong identity, Wink gives merchants a way to authenticate both humans and their AI counterparts in real time — reducing fraud, increasing confidence, and unlocking new automation opportunities safely.

As AI adoption accelerates, this balance of augmentation, identity, and trust will shape the systems that define the future of work, customer experience, and payments. Wink is proud to be part of that conversation, and even prouder to help businesses navigate what comes next with intelligence, integrity, and identity at the center.

Read the full VC Magazine feature here: