The rise of retrieval bots raises questions about data ownership, monetization, and the future of the open web. (Nitasha Tiku, Washington Post)
- AI bots like ChatGPT are replacing Google search, leading to a new kind of bot that scrapes the web for content.
- Data shows retrieval bot traffic grew 49% in Q1 2025, as AI tools harness more content than humans could.
- Websites must adapt to serve AI visitors, but compensating publishers for scraping is an uphill battle.
