Is the Internet Dead? Alexis Ohanian on What’s Wrong With the Internet

Do you also think that the internet has become more AI than human, too? If your answer is yes, then so is Alexis Ohanian’s, cofounder of Reddit. Almost everything on the internet is AI-generated, says Alexis Ohanian. According to AI CERTS, over half of all internet traffic is bots. (meaning about 51-52.3% automated traffic). While talking on the show TBPN, he said that the internet has changed, and it is not for good. He used the phrase “quasi-AI”, which means things that sound human but aren’t and are created by AI. Why does he think so? Will the future be worse, according to him? For all that, learn more. 

What Does “Dead Internet Theory” Mean?

Ohanian described something called the “Dead Internet Theory.” According to this theory, everything that you see on the internet (including social media posts, comments, blogs, etc.) is mostly written by AI. Although the ones behind it are humans, it is easily verifiable that they are all generated via AI.

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, argued that the “Dead Internet Theory” is exaggerated. However, he now believes in the theory after seeing several AI-run Twitter accounts.

Examples Ohanian Gave

• According to Ohanian, much of the web feels like “LinkedIn slop” and “botted” (full of bots). He says that everything sounds similar, fake-sounding, and AI-generated.

What Does He Think Will Happen Next?

Ohanian affirms that a new generation of social media will soon start with “verifiably human.” So, the new age of human interaction with real people will be a thing. Furthermore, he says that “proof of life” will hold all the attention in the future.

Where Are Real Conversations Happening Now?

• One might wonder where to go and find real people to talk to. Apparently, real human interactions are happening in private group chats like Signal, Discord or the general friends group on WhatsApp.
• According to him, people are more comfortable sharing genuine thoughts with their close ones than posting publicly.
• However, even these chat groups are not completely AI-sage, and bots are creeping in there as well.

Is bringing back the human touch online a possible future? Will AI ever let that happen?