The Coming Enshittification of AI
3 hours ago
- #Tech Industry Trends
- #Platform Monetization
- #Digital Advertising
- Meta apps (Facebook and Instagram) block scrolling until ads are fully watched, which may lead users to close the app and reduce doom-scrolling.
- WhatsApp is experimenting with a freemium model, potentially moving essential features to paid subscriptions or introducing ads in the future.
- Industry-wide trend of 'enshittification' affects companies like Adobe (aggressive subscriptions), Uber (hidden fees via upsells), and Prime Video (extra charges for content).
- AI companies, like OpenAI with ChatGPT, are testing ad-based or freemium models; flat-rate subscriptions may evolve into 'pay-to-see-fewer-ads' due to computing costs.
- Google's search quality declined due to SEO manipulation and revenue-focused changes, making deep research difficult and eroding user trust.
- AI tools and harnesses are at risk of similar degradation, such as promoting paid services or inserting ads, as seen with Meta's practices, despite their current utility.