MIT Technology Review Narrated AI crawler wars threaten to make the web more closed for everyone
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Jul 23, 2025 The podcast dives into the escalating conflict between web publishers and AI crawlers, highlighting a cat-and-mouse game with significant consequences. It discusses the essential role of crawlers and the potential risks of making the internet more closed off as copyright issues and new legislation emerge. Smaller content creators face challenges as large tech companies monopolize data access, raising concerns about the future of web accessibility. The conversation emphasizes the need for protective measures to ensure a competitive online landscape.
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AI Crawlers Disrupt Web Harmony
- AI crawlers now aggressively collect vast online data, disrupting previous symbiosis between websites and crawlers.
- This has sparked websites to restrict crawler access, threatening the open and accessible web ecosystem.
Websites Fight Back AI Crawlers
- Websites fear AI systems will compete with them by using their own data.
- This competition has led to lawsuits, legislation, and technical measures to restrict AI crawler access.
Anti-Crawling Technologies Rise
- Websites increasingly use anti-crawling technologies to block unwanted crawlers, including AI crawlers.
- Such tools can require crawler registration or erect navigation obstacles, reducing AI firms' data access.