Internet is already full of bullshit SEO content. Sometimes written by humans, and quite often by bots. For years now. What's coming is an arms race between different content generating AIs and search/answer AIs.

I have to say that I feel that currently the most consumed contents in the Internet are mostly human-written; and my proof is actually that it is now when the tendency is clearly changing. I have stumbled upon a few AI-generated articles already in the past few months, without looking for them specifically. You could tell because it sometimes focuses on weird details, or even I have seen l some kind of

as an AI, I do not have an opinion on the subject [...]

which is so funny when you see it.

So, yeah, it is definitely starting to happen, and in the next few years I wouldn't be surprised if 30 to 50 % of articles are just AI blorbs built for clicks.

How to avoid this? We can't. The only way would be to shut down the Internet, forbid computers and go back to a simpler life. And that, for many reasons will not happen unless some world-class destruction event happens.

1. Support Human-Created Content: Supporting human-generated content involves more than just consuming the content. You can proactively participate in crowdfunding campaigns, subscribe to creator’s newsletters, or even become a patron on platforms like Patreon. This not only provides direct financial support but also signals to other consumers and platforms that human-generated content is valuable. If you’re an influencer or have a substantial online following, your endorsement of human-generated content can help create a broader cultural shift.

2. Digital Literacy Education: Start by learning about digital literacy yourself and then share this knowledge with others. This could mean setting up workshops in your local community, offering online webinars, or mentoring a younger person. Use these opportunities to highlight the difference between human and bot-generated content, teach the basics of how algorithms shape online experiences, and foster a critical approach to online information consumption.

3. Regulate AI and Algorithms: You can get involved in the legislative process at various levels. This could mean everything from writing letters to your local and national representatives, to participating in public protests or movements. You could also consider volunteering for organizations that work on these issues or even pursuing a career in tech policy.

4. Transparency: Advocate for laws that would require tech companies to disclose their use of bots and AI. Write op-eds, start social media campaigns, or coordinate with organizations that are working towards this. Additionally, as a consumer, you can also ask direct questions to companies about their use of AI and their transparency practices.

5. Promote Ethical AI Practices: Do research into which companies adhere to ethical AI practices, and consider giving them your business. You can also use your online platform, if you have one, to highlight these companies and their practices. Your recommendations can influence others to do the same.

6. Use and Develop Tools: If you have coding skills, you can contribute to open-source projects that aim to develop tools for identifying bot-generated content. You can also participate in hackathons or online coding competitions focused on this problem. If you’re not a developer, consider supporting these initiatives financially or advocating for their wider use in your own network.

While these actions can help mitigate the “Dead Internet” scenario, it’s important to keep in mind that the internet is a vast and complex ecosystem. It’s influenced by many factors, from the technology that underpins it, to the actions of users and tech companies, to legal and cultural norms. It will require a collective effort to shape its future.

Get a new Google. Search engines are the gateway to the internet. It would be nice if the door wasn't a wall of ads.

I find it odd that it’s multiple times reinforced that its a conspiracy theory, even unprompted. Like its happening, it’s just by what degree would we consider the internet “dead”.

Honestly, I don’t know think we can. Techbro ghouls with misguided VC funding will make it happen if it’s profitable enough or even if it just seems like it will be profitable.

Probably the easiest way to avoid it is to simply rename it to something less scary sounding. Maybe something like Alive Enhanced Rich Content Internet Theory for Human People! See, not a problem now.

Also maybe we should reread Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut. It has a storyline about a guy who finds out he is the only actual real person on earth. Everyone else are robots. And he wants to know why.

Ironically, platforms like Twitter & Reddit are doing this already to some extent by paywalling APIs

As long as there’s a profit motive for generating content there isn’t anything that can be done.

For a permanent solution, it will to an extent require us to give up a level of anonymity. Whether it's linking a discussion with a real life meetup... like this (NSFW warning)

or some sort of government tracking system.

When nobody knows whether you are a dog posting on the internet, or a robot or a human, mitigations like Captcha and challenge questions only will slow AI down but can't hold it off forever.

It doesn't help that on Reddit (where there are/were a lot of interacting users), the top voted discussion is often the same tired memes/puns. That's a handicap to allow AI to better imitate human users.

I've always wondered if anything on the internet is even real. I mean I don't even know if everyone else is real. Maybe it's just me and everything else is a simulation. Maybe this is a prison of some sort and every negative event is just part of the punishment.

Participate in the internet.

That’s how you keep it from being the dead internet (which is defined as an internet in which nobody is participating).

Forums like this may die, but chat boards like Matrix, Discord, Slack will come out on top I believe.

Anything with Voice chat. I think we're still a little ways off from them being able to simulate a talking conversation in real time. The API delay with these AIs is what gives them away.

Once you have talked with someone you know they are real. As well if you really wanted to confirm people in your community are real you could do voice chat vetting.

Don't be important.

I feel like it already is the reality, and has been for almost 20 years now.