They're Looting The Internet

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the concerning state of the modern internet, dominated by ultra-profitable tech platforms that prioritize revenue growth over user experience and responsibility. It examines the issues of excessive advertising, content moderation failures, the rise of generative AI, and the broader "Rot Economy" that has emerged in the tech industry.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Rot Economy

1. What are the key issues with the modern tech platforms discussed in the article?

• The article argues that tech platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google have prioritized revenue growth over user experience, leading to:
  • Excessive advertising and interruptions that disrupt the user experience
  • Failure to effectively moderate content, leading to the proliferation of scams, misinformation, and harmful content
  • Exploitation of users by treating them as the "product" rather than providing genuine services

2. How have these platforms abused their position as dominant players in the industry?

• The article suggests that tech companies have built massive monopolies by offering useful services, and then gradually turned the "screws" on users to extract more profit, a phenomenon known as "enshittification"
• They have also engaged in practices like inflating engagement metrics to lure advertisers away from competitors, leading to lawsuits and damage to the media industry

3. What is the "Rot Economy" and how does it drive the behavior of these tech companies?

• The "Rot Economy" refers to a growth-at-all-costs mindset in the tech industry, where companies prioritize increasing revenue and profits over providing genuine value to users
• This has led to a focus on maximizing engagement and interruptions, rather than offering a quality user experience

[02] The Rise of Generative AI

1. How are tech companies exploiting generative AI models?

• The article argues that tech giants like Google, Meta, and OpenAI are training their generative AI models on vast amounts of internet content, often without permission or proper attribution, effectively "stealing" this data
• This allows them to create AI-generated content and services that they can then monetize, without compensating the original creators

2. What are the issues with the development and deployment of generative AI models?

• The article suggests that generative AI models are plagued by problems like "hallucination" (generating incorrect information), unsustainable energy and compute demands, and a lack of clear real-world applications that justify their development
• The article argues that the primary motivation for these companies is to express growth to investors, rather than to solve genuine problems or provide value to users

3. How do the actions of tech companies around generative AI reflect their broader disregard for users and responsibility?

• The article contends that the tech industry's approach to generative AI is emblematic of their broader disregard for users, as they prioritize profit and growth over providing quality services and respecting intellectual property rights