The JavaScript Proof-of-Work Arms Race Against LLMs

Websites increasingly use JavaScript-based proof-of-work systems, like Xe Iaso's Anubis, to combat aggressive LLMs and web scrapers. However, LLMs can leverage compromised machines for substantial CPU power to solve these challenges. The problem is that LLMs operate in a hostile environment, making it difficult to distinguish genuine proof-of-work from malicious JavaScript. This exposes LLMs to CPU mining or other attacks. Trying to identify proof-of-work systems is a losing game for LLMs, as malicious actors have an incentive to mimic them. This creates an arms race between websites and LLMs, each trying to optimize resource usage while protecting their interests.