The story of KINETK begins with a serendipitous meeting between Trips founder Michael Finkelstein<\/a> and Mentaport co-founder Mariale Montenegro<\/a>, who had been working on different aspects of the same problem.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe got introduced through a mutual venture capitalist association,\u201d Michael recalls. \u201cWe sat down for coffee in late October and within 45 minutes agreed to work together.\u201d Their skills complemented each other. \u201cMichael is the business person I need, and I\u2019m the technical person he needs,\u201d Mariale says.\u00a0<\/p>\n Michael brought experience from building companies in music and fintech, including The Credit Junction, a fintech lending and data analytics company he founded and led from 2013 to 2019. Mariale contributed her expertise in computer vision and AI from her time at Magic Leap and Apple, where she focused on developing tools for creators.<\/p>\n Based in New York and San Francisco, KINETK serves both individual creators on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, as well as large enterprises with major IP portfolios.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to flip the script on the model where [today] people are focused on where IP starts, where it gets posted, which platform it goes on,\u201d explains Michael, now serving as CEO of KINETK. \u201cWe want to focus people on where it gets consumed and where it goes afterward, because that is the unlock. When you think about intellectual property, it\u2019s far bigger than the creator economy. It powers everything.\u201d<\/p>\n Three-Layer Tech Stack Powering Attribution<\/p>\n KINETK\u2019s system begins with two parallel processes applied to each piece of content: embedding an invisible watermark directly into the content and creating an AI fingerprint based on the content\u2019s characteristics.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we get a piece of content, we do two things,\u201d explains Mariale, who serves as the company\u2019s CTO. \u201cWe will embed an invisible watermark in the piece of content or an AI fingerprint inside the piece of content.\u201d The watermark functions as a discreet marker embedded within the content itself, while the AI fingerprint serves as a unique identifier generated from analyzing the content.<\/p>\n Once the content has been processed, KINETK registers its metadata on the blockchain, creating an immutable record of ownership that serves as the foundation for all subsequent tracking.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe are using blockchain because it\u2019s the best technology to do this,\u201d Michael emphasizes. \u201cThe reality is blockchain is meant for, we believe, the immutable ability to record facts on a ledger.\u201d These facts include not just ownership, but other critical metadata about the content that establishes its origin.<\/p>\n The third component of the system consists of what the company calls \u201cagentic AI scanners\u201d \u2013 autonomous agents that continuously scan the web looking for the invisible watermarks and AI fingerprints KINETK has embedded. Mariale explains their unique approach: \u201cThe scanner never knows what it\u2019s seeing. It\u2019s just looking for that invisible code for us to be able to detect it.\u201d When a scanner identifies a registered piece of content, it reports back to the blockchain, which confirms ownership and notifies the creator through KINETK\u2019s dashboard.<\/p>\n Beyond Copyright Protection<\/p>\n KINETK differs from traditional content protection systems in its ability to track content that has been modified, embedded within other works, or fragmented. \u201cContent is going to move,\u201d Michael says. \u201cPieces of it are going to move across the web in ways we haven\u2019t seen before.\u201d<\/p>\n For creators, this visibility can potentially lead to financial benefits. \u201cIf you think about an influencer on TikTok, maybe they\u2019re charging $1,000 a post for the brand deals,\u201d Michael explains. \u201cThey\u2019re doing that based on where the post is on TikTok. They\u2019re not actually understanding that their post may circulate elsewhere.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n With data about their content\u2019s true reach, creators can leverage this additional exposure in their brand deals or identify new revenue opportunities.<\/p>\n Making Complex Technology Accessible<\/p>\n Despite the technology working behind the scenes, KINETK has prioritized creating a streamlined user experience that requires minimal technical knowledge. \u201cWithin three clicks, the magic happens,\u201d Michael says of their platform.<\/p>\n The user journey begins when creators either connect their existing channels (currently, YouTube or TikTok) to KINETK or upload content directly to receive protection. The system automatically processes this content, embedding the necessary markers and registering ownership.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t even know it\u2019s running on the blockchain. You don\u2019t even need to care,\u201d Michael notes, emphasizing how the technical complexity is hidden from users.<\/p>\n Once their content is protected, creators gain access to a customizable dashboard that displays instances where their content has been detected elsewhere on the web. Mariale explains how users maintain control over the information they receive: \u201cYou can have filters. For example, you can see if your content appeared on TikTok, or if it appeared with more than 10 likes.\u201d This prevents notification fatigue while ensuring creators see what matters most to them.<\/p>\n When KINETK detects a creator\u2019s content, it presents multiple response options. \u201cA creator\u2019s first point of order is the information we want to give them,\u201d Michael says. \u201cFor instance, \u2018Did you know these ten links contain your content?\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Creators can then choose to do nothing, issue an automated takedown request, or potentially capture revenues if their content appears on platforms that monetize it, though the specific mechanisms for revenue capture are still being developed.<\/p>\n The Process of Content Tracking<\/p>\n Before KINETK, Mariale was an AI lead at Magic Leap, developing key tools and algorithms for spatial computing. At Apple, she focused on creating tools and applications to empower all Apple users as creators. This experience provided her with insights into how to approach the challenge of content tracking at scale.<\/p>\n \u201cI got obsessed with the idea that we all have a brain and we\u2019re all the same biological creatures, but so different at the same time,\u201d Mariale explains, describing her early fascination with computer science. \u201cCan we make the computer see the world, react to the world differently depending on who\u2019s using it?\u201d This question led her to work with computer vision, AI, and deep learning \u2013 technologies that now form the foundation of KINETK\u2019s tracking capabilities.<\/p>\n Building a system capable of scanning the entire internet for specific content signatures presented major technical challenges. Rather than attempting to understand what content means, KINETK\u2019s system focuses solely on identifying unique signatures. \u201cThe Agentic scanners look for that watermark and AI fingerprint,\u201d Mariale explains. \u201cWhen we find something, we don\u2019t say, \u2018Oh, we found content that\u2019s a video of a cat.\u2019 We say we found ID 1, 2, 3, etc.\u201d<\/p>\n As the founders point out, this signature-based approach enables KINETK to operate at scale while maintaining privacy and minimizing computational overhead. It also means their system can work with any type of digital content \u2013 images, videos, audio \u2013 using the same core technology.<\/p>\n Why Content Attribution Matters<\/p>\n The launch of KINETK comes at a time Michael and Mariale identify as a pivotal moment in how content is created, distributed, and monetized. The growth of AI tools has changed the creative field, making both content creation and tracking more complex than before.<\/p>\n \u201cIP used to reflect mostly physical assets,\u201d Mariale says. \u201cWhen the internet started, we began to notice a shift in IP. Streaming took off, and platforms like MySpace and YouTube started allowing people to express themselves uniquely. This started the content creator revolution. An internet of read and write.\u201d<\/p>\n AI has changed this dynamic. \u201cWith AI, that just takes all those roadblockers away,\u201d Mariale continues. \u201cYou don\u2019t know how to edit. Don\u2019t worry. You don\u2019t have a studio to record a song. Don\u2019t worry. You don\u2019t want to show your face. Don\u2019t worry.\u201d The result has been an increase in content creation that makes attribution both more challenging and more essential.<\/p>\n Michael notes that this shift has raised the importance of intellectual property in public consciousness. \u201cFifteen years ago, no one cared about IP. No one knew what it was,\u201d he says. \u201cOver the last year, it\u2019s been on the front page of every mainstream journal article, and it\u2019s on the lips of everyone talking about intellectual property.\u201d This increased awareness reflects a growing recognition that digital creations hold real value that needs protection.<\/p>\n A Vision of an Ecosystem<\/p>\n In the near future, KINETK plans to expand beyond its initial tracking capabilities to foster a broader ecosystem for content attribution and protection. One key initiative currently in development is the Sentinel program, which Michael describes as \u201can advanced ambassador program that will allow anyone to help engage in this ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n According to him, this program will enable KINETK users to participate in identifying protected content across the web, extending the company\u2019s reach beyond what its own scanning technology could achieve alone.<\/p>\n Mariale elaborates on how this community approach will work: \u201cIf you\u2019re able to find the content and flag it with the help of the tools we\u2019ll be providing, then you can also be recognized.\u201d This creates a cycle where creators help protect each other\u2019s work while receiving acknowledgment for their contributions.<\/p>\n The Sentinel program shows KINETK\u2019s broader vision of creating not just a tool, but an entire ecosystem for content attribution. \u201cWe are excited about allowing anyone who\u2019s a part of the KINETK Network not only to track their own content, but [also] participate in ways that help other content creators,\u201d Michael explains.<\/p>\n The company plans to launch its platform to early access users in September, marking the beginning of what its founders hope will be a new phase in content attribution.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to make sure that whatever you see, no matter where and what platform it is, you know where it came from, who made it, what it is from,\u201d Mariale summarizes. \u201cWhen it gets consumed, we\u2019ll let you know and we\u2019ll make sure the revenue goes back to you, wherever it is, even if it\u2019s been stripped, manipulated, or whatnot.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KINETK is a tech company that tracks content across the internet using invisible watermarking, AI fingerprinting, and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6712,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[85,123,46,125],"class_list":{"0":"post-6711","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-internet","8":"tag-il","9":"tag-internet","10":"tag-israel","11":"tag-technology"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6711","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6711"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6711\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"KINETK:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-78-1024x579.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n