Economist Podcasts Internet dating: will AI kill the web?
258 snips
Jul 16, 2025 
Wendelin von Bredow, Senior Germany correspondent for The Economist, dives into the transformative impact of AI on internet dating and relationships. He discusses how traditional matchmaking methods are evolving, alongside ethical concerns about AI’s role in human connections. The conversation shifts to Austria's 'accidental chancellor,' Christian Stocker, and the implications of rising hard-right parties in Europe. They also touch on the challenges facing smaller content creators due to AI dominance, alongside a light-hearted chat about the allure of a North Korean beach holiday.
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Episode notes
AI Changes Internet Navigation
- AI transforms internet use by providing direct answers rather than links.
- This shift reduces visits to original websites, affecting their traffic and revenue.
Web Traffic Drop Across Content
- Web traffic to content sites is falling sharply, especially for health and educational information.
- This drop threatens a wide range of publishers beyond just news outlets.
Publishers Lose Monetization
- Website traffic generates revenue through ads or subscriptions.
- With AI providing answers, publishers lose monetization opportunities and incentives to create content.