The article discusses the rising challenge of automated bot traffic experienced by websites due to AI companies utilizing scrapers to gather data from the open web. While scrapers have historically provided beneficial services, their unregulated use can lead to detrimental effects on web performance, including higher hosting costs, site outages, and even potential shutdowns. The piece emphasizes the need for for-profit AI firms to engage responsibly with the open web and adhere to best practices to mitigate excessive scraping impacts.
A drastic increase in traffic, attributed to AI companies employing bots for scraping data from the open web, has impacted site performance and costs.
For-profit AI companies must ensure they do not poison the well of the open web they rely on in a short-sighted rush for training data.
Scrapers can significantly increase hosting costs and may lead to lower performance and site outages, forcing some operators to consider shutting down.
Existing best practices for scraper usage should be followed to avoid creating disruptive traffic spikes that can jeopardize site stability.
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