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Are You Talking to Bots? The Alarming Truth About the Dead Internet Theory
Geeky Gadgets ^ | July 1, 2025 | Julian Horsey

Posted on 08/12/2025 9:03:33 AM PDT by Openurmind

What if the internet as you know it—teeming with human creativity, genuine conversations, and authentic connections—was already gone? Bold as it sounds, the Dead Internet Theory suggests that much of the web has been overtaken by bots, algorithms, and now, generative AI. Imagine scrolling through your favorite platform, only to realize that the content you’re consuming, the comments you’re reading, and even the conversations you’re having might not be from real people at all. As generative AI continues to evolve, this once-fringe theory is gaining unsettling credibility. Could it be that the internet has quietly transformed into a machine-driven echo chamber, leaving human voices drowned out by artificial ones?

In this breakdown, Wes Roth explores how generative AI is reshaping the digital world, from creating eerily human-like content to influencing social media interactions and even redefining creativity itself. You’ll discover how this shift raises urgent questions about authenticity, trust, and the very nature of online engagement. Is the internet becoming a space where human connection is sidelined in favor of automated efficiency? Or is this just the next step in its evolution? By the end, you might find yourself questioning not just what you see online, but who—or what—is behind it.

(Excerpt) Read more at geeky-gadgets.com ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Conspiracy; Reference
KEYWORDS: ai; algorithms; bots; deadinternettheory; internet; socialmedia
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To: Worldtraveler once upon a time

Yes, the whole internet is now about marketing. Just a search engine exposes this fact. they have almost become useless to get any real information. Just folks who will SELL you that information you are looking for.

The new one is total irrelevant search links. Put in Stereos and get results that say “Shop for Stereos here”. But when you go to it the site is a travel agency and the header is “Book your trip with xxxxxx travel agency and shop for Stereos in the Bahamas!”


21 posted on 08/12/2025 9:47:41 AM PDT by Openurmind (AI - An Illusion for Aptitude Intrusion to Alter Intellect. )
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To: RoosterRedux

I’ve been called a ‘glowie’ and ‘Deep Stater’.
I wonder if that’s better than being called an AI...


22 posted on 08/12/2025 9:51:23 AM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: Rennes Templar

Instagram, tick tock, Facebook, at all are being used by the government for social engineering. Logged to an algorithm and that algorithm starts shaping the way you think by constant videos of the same nature. I believe prime examples are Male female relationships, the push for digital currency, anti-Semitism, anti-christianity, and race relations


23 posted on 08/12/2025 9:53:00 AM PDT by Hammerhead
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To: Hammerhead

Your smart TVs are also listening to you. I had a conversation about needing my rug vacuumed since I didn’t have a vacuum and a day later I start getting YouTube feeds and commercial on my TV about vacuum cleaners


24 posted on 08/12/2025 9:54:46 AM PDT by Hammerhead
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To: RoosterRedux

“I wrote what I thought was an insightful comment on a YouTube video and got accused of being an AI bot. Why bother writing something good if people will just give the credit to AI?”

Yes, it is going to remove the human element from the whole picture...

Angry Callers Accusing Real Customer Support Staff of Being AI

https://futurism.com/callers-accusing-customer-support-ai


25 posted on 08/12/2025 9:55:46 AM PDT by Openurmind (AI - An Illusion for Aptitude Intrusion to Alter Intellect. )
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To: Hammerhead

Everything that has a microphone and/or camera and is hooked to the internet is collecting everything from everywhere in real time.


26 posted on 08/12/2025 9:57:35 AM PDT by Openurmind (AI - An Illusion for Aptitude Intrusion to Alter Intellect. )
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To: dfwgator
---- "You can pretty much generate content with just AI Agents, and you don't even have to do any work, it will just scour websites and videos and come up with the content and publish it, as if it were your own."

"AI agents" and "AI' and all the large language models are little more than clever marketing to me, as well as thieves (as we watch some litigation now about the use of copyrighted materials being found in AI products).

But then there's more amusement --

Covert Racism in AI: How Language Models Are Reinforcing Outdated Stereotypes Stanford University, 3 September 2024.

Microsoft shuts down AI chatbot after it turned into a Nazi CBS, March 25, 2016

Is AI sexist and racist? BBC Science Focus

Google's AI, Gemini, Is Literally Depressed: ‘I Am A Failure’ TFPP Wire, 9 August 2025

Plagiarism and Generative AI University of South Florida Libraries (one of many entities taking note of plagiarism )

AI is not "intelligent." Large language models merely scour texts -- or pictures -- and then re-combine or "generate" something.

Here's a challenge. How much is the monthly fee for use of AI these days? There's always a "free" shoehorn into marketing. But the AI companies all want to SELL monthly fees.

To whit:

What Does AI ACTUALLY Cost in 2025? Your Guide on How to Find the Best Value (API vs. Subs vs. Team plans and more)

27 posted on 08/12/2025 9:58:20 AM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: Openurmind
What if the internet as you know it — teeming with human creativity ...

You mean like trolls and provocateurs? Or pr0n? Funny videos of cats? Where was this "creativity" before AI?

28 posted on 08/12/2025 10:00:05 AM PDT by Salman (It's not a slippery slope if it was part of the program all along.)
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To: Openurmind

I think a lot of Amazon/Walmart customer service chat is bots


29 posted on 08/12/2025 10:00:19 AM PDT by pnz1 ("These people have gone stone-cold crazy)
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To: Openurmind

“Dating” sites have always used bots to impersonate customers.


30 posted on 08/12/2025 10:01:33 AM PDT by HIDEK6 (God bless Donald Trump)
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To: Openurmind

There is a ‘commenter’ here who can be triggered into the same meaningless 4 word response rather easily.


31 posted on 08/12/2025 10:02:45 AM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Annnd....TRUMP IS RIGHT AGAIN.)
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To: Openurmind

I just read a couple of gun reviews in Guns and Ammo - Sept 2025.

Neither article had an author - I check because I recognize their biases and preferences and experience levels.

Both articles had a similar layout, and similar ‘tone’, and level of information - basic facts, not much personal observation.

I am currently theorizing they are AI.


32 posted on 08/12/2025 10:05:05 AM PDT by Scrambler Bob (Running Rampant, and not endorsing nonsense; My pronoun is EXIT. And I am generally full of /S)
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To: dfwgator
--- "Social Media is now getting 'Usenetted', once spam took over people just stopped using it."

Interesting. After having been called "evil," as well as Putin stooge and such, and one Freeper who stated I was "amplifying Soviet propaganda," plus other assorted pleasantries, I have been considering the options or 1) donating again this quarter as I have in the past, or 2) not donating again this quarter. The phenomenon of becoming "usenetted" seems quite an interesting new word to capture this.

33 posted on 08/12/2025 10:05:10 AM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: Openurmind

I can see that many of the accounts that Facebook puts in my feed are fake and generated by AI.


34 posted on 08/12/2025 10:05:18 AM PDT by I want the USA back (America is once again GREAT! Blue Lives Matter! White lives matter. )
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To: HIDEK6

Similar...

Realtors Are Using AI Images of Homes They’re Selling. Comparing Them to the Real Thing Will Make You Mad as Hell

https://futurism.com/realtors-ai-images-homes


35 posted on 08/12/2025 10:08:36 AM PDT by Openurmind (AI - An Illusion for Aptitude Intrusion to Alter Intellect. )
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To: TiGuy22

I used to ask how many moons Jupiter has.

Click . . . I’ll connect you to a manager.


36 posted on 08/12/2025 10:08:53 AM PDT by Scrambler Bob (Running Rampant, and not endorsing nonsense; My pronoun is EXIT. And I am generally full of /S)
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To: DesertRhino
> I only trust you and me. And I’m not sure about you.

My old favorite was:

"All the world is mad but thee and me, dear, and lately thee has been acting a bit strangely."

37 posted on 08/12/2025 10:09:19 AM PDT by dayglored (This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24)
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To: Jamestown1630

W&%$ arooopilep vinghing?


38 posted on 08/12/2025 10:16:11 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: Scrambler Bob

Richard would have never put up with that nonsense... Period...


39 posted on 08/12/2025 10:20:29 AM PDT by Openurmind (AI - An Illusion for Aptitude Intrusion to Alter Intellect. )
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To: Openurmind

The BIG question: are we all on Generative FR?

How,do I REALLY know that Openurmind isn’t a bot?


40 posted on 08/12/2025 10:26:42 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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