I’ve written previously about how many websites are producing clickbait articles with sensationalist headlines and provocative content, sacrificing honesty for the sake of clicks.
Now, a recent investigation by cybersecurity firm DoubleVerify has uncovered a network involving more than 200 websites publishing AI-generated articles for the sole purpose of generating advertising revenue.
We recently uncovered a coordinated network of 200+ MFA domains. Viewed individually, each domain appears to be an independent lifestyle blog. But they all have the same AI-generated articles and images and are optimized for ad delivery, not user experience. We’ve named the operation AutoBait ~ <credit: DoubleVerify>
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The investigation into this “AutoBait” network has highlighted just how easy it is to mass-produce fake online content. What makes this investigation particularly interesting is how it has provided insight into how the AutoBait network operates.
Apparently, the network operators accidentally exposed the AI prompts and code used to generate the fake articles in their JavaScript, instructing the AI to perform tasks such as:
- lead with sensational or shocking information
- inject strong emotions such as fear or urgency
- create slideshow-style articles designed to keep users clicking
- generate images that look like authentic smartphone photos
DoubleVerify has labeled the network an “AI Slop Factory”, which is, in my opinion, a totally appropriate moniker. The concerning aspects here are:
- How many more of these AI slop factories remain undiscovered
- Just how easy it is to game the system
- How very little it costs to set up this type of scam for potentially huge rewards. The reward-to-cost ratio is off the scale
BOTTOM LINE:
Remember the old saying, “Don’t believe everything you read in newspapers“? That old saying applies to online content, now more than ever.
- You can read DoubleVerify’s full report at: Inside An AI Slop Factory
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