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Sam Altman says that bots are making social media feel ‘fake’

Sam Altman, Reddit shareholder, expressed concerns that bots have distorted social media, making it hard to discern real human interactions. He reflected on posts within a subreddit praising OpenAI Codex, questioning their authenticity while discussing the cultural effects of AI language models. He highlighted the rise of bot-driven engagement on platforms, casting doubt on the reliability of online discourse.

Key points

  • Sam Altman raised concerns about social media's authenticity due to bot activity.
  • He had an epiphany while reading posts in the r/Claudecode subreddit, noting many praising OpenAI Codex.
  • Altman suggested that people now mimic AI language models, resulting in posts feeling less genuine.
  • He pointed out the role of incentives in social media, where engagement drives profit, leading to possible astroturfing.
  • Data from Imperva showed over half of internet traffic in 2024 was non-human, largely from LLMs.
  • Altman hinted at a potential ulterior motive, speculating that OpenAI may be developing its own social platform.

Why it matters

  • The rise of AI-generated content is a significant trend in 2025 as organizations struggle with authenticity.
  • Increases in non-human traffic highlight ongoing concerns about the impact of AI on communication and information reliability.
  • OpenAI's advancements in language models have influenced user behavior across various online platforms, blurring lines between human and AI-generated content.
  • Social media platforms have faced scrutiny over bot activity and engagement manipulation, paralleling discussions surrounding general trust in online information.

Altman's observation underscores the growing influence of AI on social media authenticity, provoking questions about the integrity of online interactions. As content generation increasingly blurs the line between human and AI, the evolving landscape will challenge how we perceive communication and trust in the digital age.