AI and Rise of the Dead Internet : Are Bots Taking Over?

AI and Rise of the Dead Internet: Are Bots Taking Over the Web?

Almost half of all internet traffic isn’t human anymore! A recent report says nearly 50% of web activity comes from bots, both good and bad. This is giving weight to the “dead internet theory,” which once seemed crazy.

The AI and rise of the dead internet theory suggests two things: first, that machines are making most of the noise online, and second, that this is done on purpose to control us.

A recent study by cybersecurity company Imperva supports the first claim, revealing that bots generated nearly half (49.6%) of all internet traffic in 2023

The report confirms the first part, at least. Bots are everywhere! Some bots are helpful, like search engine crawlers that keep websites indexed. Others, though, are bad actors. These “bad bots” make up a third of all internet traffic and can steal data or commit fraud.

What’s scary is that advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are making bad bots even sneakier. AI can now mimic human behavior online, fooling those “prove you’re human” tests. This lets bad bots do their dirty work undetected.

The report also says that AI tools are making it easier for anyone to create bad bots. Before, you needed some tech skills to be a bad bot builder. Now, with AI, even beginners can do it. This means more bad bots are out there.

These bots often target APIs, which are like shortcuts for programs to talk to each other. As more companies use AI through APIs, the risk of bad bots exploiting them grows.

There are real people behind these bad bots, even if they’re not some shadowy government group. They just want to trick and manipulate us.

On top of the bots, AI is also creating a flood of automated content. We’re seeing AI-generated music, videos, and even social media influencers. These fake accounts can interact with each other, creating a whole online world that might not even involve real people.

The “dead internet theory” might have sounded crazy a few years ago, but with AI on the rise, it’s looking more and more real.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the “AI and rise of the dead internet” theory is no longer a laughing matter. The data is alarming: almost half of all internet traffic stems from bots, and AI is making them craftier and stealthier. This raises serious questions about the authenticity of online interactions and the potential for a web overrun by machines. As AI’s influence grows, we must find ways to mitigate the risks and ensure the internet remains a space for genuine human connection.