UAE: AI-Generated Content Might Drive Humans Off Social Media, Says Reddit Founder

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian warned that the internet is increasingly dominated by AI-generate and bot-driven content, saying as much as“20 per cent of all the content we see on social media is fake”, during the Bridge Summit in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Speaking with Nikhil Kumar, Executive Editor of Time, Ohanian said the shift began“in the three years since the debut of ChatGPT”, describing a dramatic rise in fabricated posts, accounts and engagement across platforms.

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“There isn't really a platform that's immune,” he said.“It is now trivial to bot content... whether those are fake accounts, whether those are real humans posting AI-generated content.”

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He added that the incentives are commercial, not ideological.

“There is a real business incentive to populate these spaces, because that data trains the models that we form when we ask ChatGPT where should I go on vacation or what bread maker should I buy.”

Trust is collapsing online

Ohanian said even experienced internet users are increasingly deceived by AI-driven content“If you're digitally native... you're probably less likely to get duped. But I catch myself being misled,” he said, adding that the trend is accelerating.“That number doesn't go down. The trajectory is only going to go up.”

He said the next phase of social media must be built around verified human identity - without resorting to extreme methods such as scanning people's retinas.

“Someone is going to have to craft what the next wave of social media looks like that verifies humanity,” he said.

For now, he said his own“alpha” - valuable real insights - comes from small, closed group chats of“50 to 100 people, because everyone knows that they're human”.

Brands will rethink digital ads

The surge in fake engagement will force multinational brands to reassess online spending, Ohanian predicted.

“What happens if you're a multinational brand, and why are you buying ads, especially on a platform where half of the people aren't real?” he said.

He noted that the arrival of ultra-realistic AI-generated video will intensify the issue, pointing to rapid advances following OpenAI's release of Sora.

Counter-trend: Real-world human experiences

Ohanian said the very technologies transforming the internet will make live, in-person experiences more valuable.

“When our screens get a hundred times more addictive; a part of our humanity suffers,” he said.“The humanity of sport is unbelievable. We need to see a bunch of humans compete at their best to create moments.”

He argued that after Covid-19 lockdowns - and especially as AI personalises digital entertainment - people will increasingly seek physical experiences“around other humans”.

He predicted a resurgence of theatre and live performance.

“I actually think this is my most radical bet,” he said.“Theatre is going to make a huge comeback; there's a different energy that hits you when humans are telling a story.”

Why he pivoted to women's sports

Ohanian linked his investment in women's sports to this wider shift toward authentic human connection.

He recalled resigning from Reddit's board“five years ago” and reassessing how to use his platform. One of his first moves was supporting Angel City FC, now one of the most valuable women's football clubs in the US.

“Most people said I'd just lose all my money. Nobody cares about women's sports,” he said.“Thankfully, we proved them all wrong.”

He said he is now convinced that a major part of his future legacy“is going to be in this field.”

“Every time I come back to Abu Dhabi, I'm hit with such optimism and energy,” he said.“It's great to see so many people competing... and solving real problems,” he added.

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