I was one of the internet’s first influencers. AI just killed the whole category — and created something better
The evolution of the internet has transformed the role of influencers, particularly with the rise of AI technologies. As misinformation proliferates, there is a growing demand for credible expertise over charismatic opinions. This shift suggests that while influencers may still thrive in low-stakes areas, high-stakes topics will increasingly rely on credentialed professionals augmented by AI.
- ▪The internet has shifted from artisanal knowledge-sharing to an overwhelming influx of processed information.
- ▪AI technologies like ChatGPT have changed the landscape, allowing machine influencers to compete with human ones.
- ▪There is a renewed focus on expertise, with credentialed professionals becoming more valuable in high-stakes discussions.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
About 28 years ago, I was reporting a story from my desk at Wired titled “The Hot New Medium Is … Email.” This was an unusually personal report because I was partly its subject — a creator of a then-novel phenomenon: the viral internet newsletter. Think Substack circa 1995, made by hand, when maybe there were only 16 million people on the internet.Recommended Video As I explained to Wired readers back in the day: “Meme is my newsletter, delivered once a month via electronic mail to 4,400 subscribers… What counts is who reads it.” I was, in today’s language, an early influencer. The early internet offered “an idealized picture” where “ideas flow freely” — and I desperately wanted to believe it could work.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Fortune.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Fortune
