AI Threatens Open Access to Online Knowledge, Warns Experts

What Happened

The Wall Street Journal reports that experts are worried artificial intelligence could reduce the availability of free information on the Internet. With the rapid rise of AI tools like chatbots and generative models, websites and content creators are starting to limit or lock access to their data. These changes are driven by concerns that AI companies scrape and use content without permission or compensation, creating a so-called “data drought.” This protectionist trend could reduce the quality and diversity of online knowledge, affecting students, researchers, and the public.

Why It Matters

The debate highlights fundamental questions about AI’s impact on public access to information. If companies restrict data to limit AI scraping, the free exchange of knowledge may shrink, which could hamper innovation and learning opportunities. Read more in our AI News Hub