Internet pioneer Sam Altman issues alarming prediction: Potential extinction of the web in the next three years due to the surge in AI and bot use, such as that found in ChatGPT.
In the ever-evolving digital landscape, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation are reshaping the way we interact with the internet. This transformation, while promising numerous benefits, also presents some concerns.
According to a 2024 report by Sandvine, AI-generated internet traffic accounted for approximately 49.6% of all traffic. A year earlier, cybersecurity firm Imperva made a similar claim, stating that half of all internet traffic was AI-driven. Since then, this proportion has increased from 42.35%, indicating a significant shift in the digital sphere.
One of the most notable impacts of AI can be seen in the healthcare sector. New technologies are being developed to detect early signs of diseases such as dementia and cancer using AI. However, the quality of AI models is contingent upon the availability of high-quality content for training, a factor that top AI labs like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic are grappling with.
The integration of AI into search engines like Google has been a double-edged sword. While tools like AI mode and AI Overviews have been introduced to enhance search quality, they have proven to be unreliable at times, generating misleading results and even recommending harmful or inappropriate actions. Google has attributed these instances to a lack of vast information on certain topics on the web.
Notable figures like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Google DeepMind's CEO Demis Hassabis have expressed concerns about the implications of AI. Hassabis warns that society may not be ready to handle the consequences of achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), while Altman is sceptical about ChatGPT's ability to dethrone Google from its dominant position in search.
The rise of AI has also led to the emergence of bot activity, contributing to a phenomenon known as 'link rot.' A report from the Pew Research Center claims that 38% of human-made websites from 2014 no longer exist due to this process. This has raised questions about the authenticity of information online, prompting users to be more vigilant in verifying the accuracy of the content they consume.
In the realm of social media, former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey predicted in 2024 that distinguishing reality from fiction would become increasingly challenging due to the proliferation of deep fakes and manipulated images. Dorsey emphasised the importance of personal experiences in asserting the authenticity of information.
Despite these challenges, the positive impact of AI is undeniable. It is revolutionising various sectors, including medicine, education, computing, entertainment, and more. As we navigate this digital transformation, striking a balance between embracing the opportunities presented by AI and addressing its challenges will be key to ensuring a safe and beneficial digital future.
Users will undoubtedly continue to lean towards AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT for their queries. However, it is essential to approach these tools with a critical eye, verifying the accuracy of the information they provide and remaining vigilant in the face of the increasing bot activity on the internet.
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