The other day I was browsing my one-and-only social network -- which is not a social network, but I'm tired of arguing with people online about it -- HackerNews...

Hacker News is a community-driven platform for sharing and discussing technology news, startups, and programming-related topics. Through user submissions and comments, Hacker News offers insights into emerging technology trends, industry developments, and entrepreneurial ventures. Readers can participate in discussions, share their insights, and stay informed about the latest advancements in technology and innovation.

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The Dead Internet Theory suggests that since around 2016, most online interactions are between bots and most content is machine-generated. A HackerNews thread about an open-source project sparked this reflection, where both the code and author's comments appeared AI-generated despite denials. The author contrasts today's uncertainty about online authenticity with the early 2000s internet, where human interaction was guaranteed. Examples include AI-altered LinkedIn photos and social media content. The proliferation of AI-generated content raises concerns about the future utility of technology and whether the internet has become primarily bots talking to bots, recycling human knowledge for commercial purposes.