Identity Digital spins out agentic effort, now called Known

The transition marks a significant milestone for the project previously known as DNSid. When Identity Digital first unveiled its Innovation Labs, the primary focus was on creating what the company described as "birth certificates for AI agents." This concept was born out of a necessity to manage the "agentic" web—a shift in the digital landscape where autonomous AI agents do not merely provide information but actively perform tasks, negotiate transactions, and interact with web infrastructure on behalf of human users. As these agents become more integrated into corporate and consumer workflows, the lack of a standardized identity layer has become a glaring vulnerability. Without a verifiable way to identify an agent, its origin, and its authorized permissions, the potential for misuse, fraud, and systemic instability remains high.

Known is tasked with advancing the DNSid protocol as an open standard. The core philosophy behind DNSid is the utilization of the Domain Name System (DNS) as the foundational layer for agent identity. Because the DNS is already the world’s most established, distributed, and trusted naming infrastructure, it provides a logical framework for assigning unique, verifiable identities to AI entities. By leveraging existing DNS protocols, Known intends to provide enterprises with the tools necessary to implement agent accountability at scale. This involves not just the creation of identities, but the ongoing management of the permissions and reputations associated with those identities, ensuring that when an AI agent interacts with a third-party server, its credentials can be instantly validated.

The decision to spin out Known from Identity Digital was a strategic one, driven by the realization that a global identity standard requires broad industry adoption to be effective. Akram Atallah, the CEO of Identity Digital, has been a vocal proponent of the need for cross-platform accountability. Speaking on the strategic shift, Atallah noted that while the project began as an internal innovation, its ultimate success depends on its ability to operate independently of any single domain name company. He explained that for agent accountability to truly take hold, it must function seamlessly across various companies, platforms, and technological ecosystems. Keeping the initiative tucked inside Identity Digital’s corporate structure could have been perceived as a limitation, potentially discouraging competitors or different sectors of the tech industry from adopting the standard.

By launching Known as an independent entity, the project gains the institutional neutrality required to build broad participation. Atallah emphasized that Known now has the independence to work across the entire market, engaging with a diverse array of stakeholders to build the shared infrastructure necessary for the AI era. This independence is seen as vital for establishing the trust required for enterprises to integrate these identity standards into their core operations. If DNSid is to become the "birth certificate" for the next generation of digital entities, it must be supported by a governance structure that prioritizes universal applicability over proprietary interests.

The financial and operational framework for Known remains closely tied to its origins, though its path forward is distinct. Identity Digital will maintain a significant interest in the new company as an investor and will retain a seat on its board of directors to ensure continued alignment with the broader goals of the domain industry. Furthermore, Known is receiving support from Ethos Capital, the private equity firm that also backs Identity Digital. The involvement of Ethos Capital provides Known with the institutional backing and capital necessary to navigate the intensive research and development phase required to bring enterprise-grade identity solutions to market.