AI-Generated Algorithms and Human Interaction: The Internet's Trustworthiness Dilemma

The "Dead Internet Theory"—which posits that a significant portion of online content is no longer viewed by real people—has resurfaced in discussions as artificial intelligence-generated material increasingly fills digital spaces. The rapid proliferation of AI-created content, along with falling ad viewability rates, has ignited conversations among advertisers, regulators, and technology experts regarding the reliability of online engagement statistics. Recent findings from Pixalate, a global platform specializing in ad fraud prevention, highlight the growing conflict between the expanding influence of AI and the trustworthiness of digital advertising metrics.

Pixalate’s Q3 2025 benchmarks for ad viewability reveal a complex environment. In Brazil, mobile app ads were viewed 62% of the time, while desktop web ads reached 69%. However, these numbers obscure ongoing challenges with automated bot traffic and non-human interactions. On a global scale, desktop web ad viewability stood at 63%, mobile web at 60%, and mobile apps at 67%. These statistics underscore a pressing issue:

and handle ad placements automatically, distinguishing genuine human engagement from algorithm-driven activity becomes increasingly difficult. Pixalate’s review of 39 billion programmatic ad impressions further illustrates the magnitude of the issue, as non-human traffic may distort the metrics advertisers depend on to evaluate their campaigns.

The consequences go beyond just ad visibility. Firms such as C3.ai, which provides enterprise AI software, are contending with the economic impact of AI’s swift adoption.

, the company experienced a 19% decline in revenue compared to the previous year and reported a net loss of $117 million in its latest quarter, now considering a possible sale amid leadership changes and operational hurdles. that C3.ai’s difficulties mirror larger uncertainties in the AI industry, where high development expenses and intense competition threaten profitability, even as interest in AI solutions continues to rise.

The Dead Internet Theory is gaining momentum in this environment. With AI-generated material saturating social media, search engines, and advertising spaces, some critics claim the internet is turning into a "ghost town" dominated by algorithms. Pixalate’s research indicates that as much as 37% of mobile app ad impressions in Brazil might not be seen by actual people, supporting the theory’s main argument. For advertisers, this creates a challenge: spending on platforms where engagement data is increasingly questionable could result in wasted resources and lower returns.

for tighter regulations and more sophisticated analytics to better distinguish between human users and bots.

At present, the issue remains unsettled. While Pixalate’s data underscores the need to tackle non-human traffic, companies like C3.ai demonstrate the financial dangers of relying too heavily on AI. As the digital world continues to change, stakeholders must find a balance between embracing innovation and maintaining accountability to preserve the internet as a place for genuine human connection, rather than letting it become dominated by automated processes.