Are all the contents we see on the internet today created by humans? Looking at the recent ‘Shrimp Jesus’ image issue, the ‘Dead Internet’ theory, which claims that AI is dominating the internet, is gaining more traction. This theory argues that human activities online are being replaced by AI agents, a change that is particularly evident on social media platforms. We are increasingly exposed to AI-generated content.
1. The Emergence of the Dead Internet Theory
The Dead Internet theory suggests that as AI dominates the internet, human activities decrease, and machines generate content. This reflects a reality where it is challenging to distinguish between real and fake on the internet. The popularity of the ‘Shrimp Jesus’ image on Facebook and Instagram illustrates this point well. This image, which combines Jesus and shrimp, has gained significant popularity despite the unclear origin and purpose.
2. The Spread of AI-Generated Content
AI already performs various activities for humans, such as web searches and booking tickets. Consequently, AI-generated content is pushing out human-created content. The ‘Shrimp Jesus’ image exemplifies this phenomenon. AI, which has learned the absurdity and religious mix, generated this image, and it has been widely shared among people. This indicates that AI has moved beyond simple bot activities to actual content creation.
3. The Relationship Between Social Media and Ad Revenue
One reason for the increase in AI-generated content on social media is its connection to ad revenue. Accounts with many followers can later be used for marketing activities. Images like ‘Shrimp Jesus,’ which receive many likes and comments, contribute to generating ad revenue. AI-created content is used for commercial purposes in this way.
4. The Threat of Fake News and Bots
More serious than cases like ‘Shrimp Jesus’ is the issue of fake news spread by bots. In 2022, almost half of the total internet traffic was generated by bots. The advancement of generative AI is also improving the quality of fake content. This fake news causes significant confusion among internet users, making it hard to distinguish the truth.
5. Social Media Responses
Elon Musk is considering requiring a membership fee for X (Twitter) users to block bot usage. This is an effort to curb the spread of AI-generated content. However, it is uncertain how effective this method will be. The expression that the real internet is dead signifies that the free interaction we once knew on the internet is disappearing.
Conclusion
The Dead Internet theory and the spread of AI-generated content are bringing significant changes to how we use the internet. This change heralds an era where we need to more critically assess the authenticity of information. It is important to navigate the internet with a critical and skeptical mind.