AI spam is already starting to ruin the internet

AI-generated spam is flooding the web

AI spam is becoming a major issue on the internet. Within the past week, there have been three notable instances of AI-generated spam. First, a tech blog called 404 Media had to modify its website due to AI spam. The scammers would create AI-written versions of the blog's articles and post them on spam sites that ranked high in Google search results. These fake articles would often show up above the real ones, and the scammers would make money from ads displayed on these AI-generated pages.

Another example is The Hairpin, a popular indie blog that was taken over by an AI click farmer. The click farmer replaced the names of the women authors with men's names, causing confusion and frustration. Lastly, AI-generated obituaries have become a disturbing trend. Scammers scrape funeral home websites and use AI to create YouTube videos and spam websites based on the obituaries. This not only causes pain to grieving families but also misleads users searching for information about the deceased.

These examples highlight how AI spam is negatively impacting the internet. It not only harms content creators and grieving families but also affects search engines like Google, which end up delivering low-quality results to users.

The consequences of AI-generated spam

AI-generated spam has significant consequences for various parties involved. For content creators, it means their hard work is being stolen and replicated by AI, leading to a loss of clicks and revenue. Grieving families, on the other hand, have to deal with inaccurate and misleading obituaries that cause additional pain during an already difficult time. As for search engines like Google, they face the challenge of filtering out spammy content and delivering relevant results to users.

The New York Times reported on the impact of AI-generated obituaries on a grieving family. After a tragedy, YouTube videos and AI-written articles quickly appeared online, exploiting the search interest around the deceased individual's name. Despite containing numerous inaccuracies, these spammy obituaries still appeared in Google search results. This highlights the need for search engines to actively combat AI-generated spam and protect users from misinformation and spammy content.

The need for action

Addressing AI-generated spam is crucial for content creators, users, and search engines alike. While Google is aware of the issue and has taken steps to remove spammy obituaries, bad actors often find ways to stay one step ahead. Platforms and companies producing AI tools must take responsibility and work towards minimizing the harm caused by AI spam.

As AI continues to transform the internet, it is essential to find the right balance between leveraging its benefits and mitigating its negative impacts. This includes implementing robust policies and technologies to detect and prevent AI-generated spam, protecting the integrity of online content, and ensuring a safer and more reliable online experience for users.