Overview

For much of our online history, various types of bots have existed, ranging from World of Warcraft gold bots to spammers. However, with the introduction of AI technologies, the situation has substantially worsened.

Nowadays, platforms such as social media, email, and news sites are inundated with content linked to AI-generated bots, giving rise to theories like the ‘dead internet theory,’ which postulates that most online activity is simply bots reacting to one another.

Sam Altman’s Take

Recently, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, remarked on this phenomenon during a post on X. He mentioned that while he once dismissed the theory, he has noticed a significant number of accounts that appear to be powered by large language models (LLMs).

“I never took the dead internet theory that seriously but it seems like there are really a lot of LLM-run twitter accounts now.” - Sam Altman

While Altman’s acknowledgment is worth noting, many see it as ironic given that his company plays a crucial role in unleashing these technologies upon the internet. Observations are such that, as the leader of OpenAI, his reflections on the bot issue almost echo those of someone who set the house on fire while noting how hot it feels inside.

This conversation around the increasing influence of AI in our digital communications and contexts illustrates a burgeoning concern that needs to be managed as technology continues to evolve.