Should we preserve the pre-AI internet before it is contaminated?

image via New Scientist

July 21, 2025, 12:56 PM

• •AI-generated content since 2022 makes it difficult to distinguish between human and AI-created information.
• •Some experts are archiving pre-AI data to preserve an untainted historical record.
• •Others focus on archiving AI outputs to study the evolution of chatbots.
• •Concerns exist about AI's impact on journalism, legal discovery, and scientific research.

The rise of AI-generated content poses a significant challenge to verifying the authenticity of information, sparking debates among experts. Some are attempting to archive data from before the widespread use of AI to create a 'clean' historical record, while others prioritize archiving AI outputs to study their development over time. Experts like Rajiv Pant worry about the impact on journalism and research. The need to distinguish between human and AI-generated content is becoming more urgent, affecting various fields.

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