How AI is breaking the internet (and what to do about it) | Matthew Prince

The internet’s long-standing business model, which relies on traffic to fund journalism and research, faces an existential threat from AI-driven "answer engines." These systems provide direct answers, eliminating the need for users to click through to publisher sites, which has caused traffic to decline by up to 90% for some media outlets. To sustain the open web, the industry must transition from rewarding inflammatory, low-cost content to incentivizing the creation of original knowledge. AI companies have a vested interest in filling these "holes in the cheese" by licensing high-quality, unique content. This shift mirrors the evolution of the music industry, where platforms now compensate creators for specific, unfulfilled user queries. By prioritizing original, local, and unique reporting, the internet can move toward a sustainable economic model that rewards those who genuinely advance human knowledge.