A recent extensive study utilizing data from the Internet Archive revealed that around one out of every three websites established since 2022 were created by artificial intelligence. This development signifies a swift and significant transformation in the evolution of the internet, according to the researchers.
The study, titled “The impact of AI-generated text on the internet,” was a collaborative effort by experts from Stanford University, Imperial College London, and the Internet Archive. Their analysis indicated that by mid-2025, approximately 35% of newly published websites were identified as either AI-generated or AI-assisted, a stark increase from pre-ChatGPT era in late 2022.
The researchers investigated six prevailing theories concerning the influence of AI-generated text on the internet, assessing factors such as the proliferation of disinformation, the standardization of writing styles, and the accuracy of information presented.
Surprisingly, the study revealed that only two out of the six hypotheses were substantiated. AI-generated content contributed to a reduction in semantic diversity across the internet and introduced a more positive tone overall. However, it did not lead to a noticeable surge in false claims nor did it diminish the practice of citing sources among websites.
The researchers disclosed their plans to collaborate with the Internet Archive to transform the study into an ongoing monitoring tool rather than a static analysis. Future endeavors include delving deeper into the impact on specific website categories and exploring how these effects vary across different languages.
