Google Says R.I.P. to CAPTCHA (Sort Of) Instead of struggling to decipher a distorted series of characters, you'll now be asked to tick a box that reads 'I'm not a robot.'

By Laura Entis

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

For years now, websites have determined our non-robotness by forcing us to decipher and enter a series of distorted characters. Called CAPTCHA, the process was built on the theory that humans are much better than computers at deciphering pixelated/fuzzy/confusingly-arranged numbers and letters.

While that was true when CAPTCHA was invented in the late 1990s, it no longer holds. Google estimates that computers can now solve CAPTCHAs with 99.8 percent accuracy.

In response, the search-giant has cooked up a new and improved method with which we can demonstrate our humanness online. Instead of being asked to enter a hard-to-read CAPTCHA, online security checks will (in most cases) simply require that we check a box reading "I am not a robot." The new system -- dubbed 'No CAPTCHA reCAPTCHA -- is rolling out today.

But how does the act of simply ticking off a box prove that we aren't cyborgs? Apparently, it's not so much the actual tick that's important, but how the tick happens. Namely, the shaky movements of the mouse leading up to the action indicate that a human is behind it, the BBC reports.

Related: Intel Wants to Make Computers Think More Like Humans

"The sheer complication of the human arm and hand and the way they direct a mouse makes it difficult to predict," Tom Cheesewright, founder of the technology consultancy Book of the Future, told the outlet.

This technique won't work on smartphones and tablets, of course, where typing takes place without the aid of a mouse. Instead, online security checks on these devices will show Internet users a host of photos, and ask them to tap all of the ones that match a given clue (such as a turkey or a kitten).

Google Says R.I.P. to CAPTCHA (Sort Of)

Image credit: Google

This doesn't mean that CAPTCHAs are disappearing altogether. In instances where a risk analysis engine isn't convinced that users are human even after the "I am not a robot" box is ticked, they will be prompted to enter a CAPTCHA to verify their non-robotness.

But this does mean CAPTCHAs will become far less frequent, vastly reducing the amount of pixel-induced confusion and frustration across the Internet.

Related: The Robots Are Coming: Zuckerberg, Kutcher Invest in Artificial Intelligence Startup

Laura Entis is a reporter for Fortune.com's Venture section.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Innovation

4 Ways Market Leaders Use Innovation to Foster Business Growth

Forward-thinkers constantly strive to diversify and streamline their products and services, turning novelties into commodities desired by many.

Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Business Process

The Best Times, Days and Months To Post on YouTube (2023)

When is the best time to post YouTube videos to maximize their effect? Discover the best time to post on YouTube in this detailed guide.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Leadership

From Elite Athletes to Tech Titans — Discover the Surprising $100-Million Habit That Leads to Extraordinary Success

Success comes from mastering focus, eliminating distractions and prioritizing what truly matters.

Business Culture

What Every Business Leader Can Learn From Dutch Bros' People-First Culture

The coffee chain is turning employees into owners of the customer experience.