Is AI Breaking the Free Internet?

57% of all internet traffic is now generated by bots. That statistic alone changes the way we think about the internet. In this episode of Leading Change in the Wild, I explore Cloudflare's latest announcement to block AI crawlers and why it may mark the beginning of a fundamental shift in how the internet is funded, searched, and experienced. Because this is not just about AI bots. It is about the future of the internet itself. Here's what I unpack: Why AI bots now generate the majority of internet traffic Cloudflare's new strategy to block AI crawlers How Google's AI search is changing the economics of the web Why the attention economy is beginning to break down Cloudflare's new pay-per-crawl marketplace for AI companies What happens when websites are no longer visited by humans Whether this could be the beginning of the end of the free internet The takeaway is clear. The internet was built on human attention. As AI increasingly consumes information instead of people, the business model that has powered the web for decades is being rewritten. This is not just a technology conversation. It is an economic one. Because the future of the internet will depend on who creates value, who consumes it, and who ultimately pays for it. 👇 Let's discuss: Should AI companies have to pay to access online content? Will Cloudflare's approach change the balance of power between publishers and AI companies? Is this the beginning of a paid internet for everyone? 🔔 Subscribe for weekly insights on digital transformation, leadership, and emerging technologies.