Technologies

AI Is Eating the Internet, but Many Are Hopeful Human-Made Content Will Win Out

Publishers, including CNET’s owner, are taking a wide range of approaches to try to make it through AI’s changes.

With AI encroaching on all corners of the internet, from bogus articles to Instagram Reels, there’s concern that human-made content is under threat, and as a result, so are the film, music and publishing industries.

There are AI actresses, AI-generated music filling up Spotify and AI answers at the top of Google Search, above the 10 blue links.

But consumers of news and media remain uncomfortable with the idea of fully AI-generated content. A recent Reuters Institute survey of people in six countries, including the US, found that only 12% of people are comfortable with fully AI-generated news, compared to 62% who prefer their news entirely human-produced.

That desire for human-made content has some publishing executives optimistic, including Vivek Shah, CEO of CNET owner Ziff Davis. He said as much in a recent episode of the podcast Channels with Peter Kafka.

«The narrative around is that the declines in search traffic somehow are existential and I just don’t see it that way,» said Shah.

«I still think we prefer words and sounds and videos from humans,» he added. «Do I think that the robots will eat into some of that? I do.»

Internet search and content analysts see the same preferences among consumers.

«I also agree that as Google continues to roll out new AI search features like AI Overviews and AI Mode, users will continue to seek authentic content from real humans,» said Lily Ray, vice president of SEO strategy and research at Amsive, a marketing agency, «and when the AI answer isn’t sufficient to meet those needs, they will continue to search for content that provides that sense of real human connection.»

As AI is rapidly shifting how people find information online, publishers are moving quickly to strike deals. News Corp, Axel Springer and Future PLC have signed content licensing deals with OpenAI, for example. Other companies are taking on AI companies directly.

AI models are trained on the entire corpus of information found online, which includes published journalistic content. Recently, Penske Media, which owns Variety and Rolling Stone, sued Google over its use of AI Overviews, which gives AI-generated answers at the top of search. Penske alleges that Google is abusing its monopoly power in online search and that AI Overviews steals Penske content, circumventing the need for readers to click on articles directly.

Ziff Davis, along with the New York Times, has sued ChatGPT creator OpenAI for scraping journalistic content to train AI models rather than signing a licensing deal. Shah told Kafka that OpenAI rebuffed Ziff Davis’ attempts to negotiate a licensing deal.

OpenAI didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Ziff Davis said Shah was unavailable for comment.

The strong response from publishers comes as Wall Street rewards Google, chipmaker Nvidia and OpenAI partner Microsoft with record valuations even as the publishing industry is contracting. There have been major drops in traffic across the internet in 2025. This year, too, the publishing industry has seen layoffs at CNN, Vox Media, HuffPost, the LA Times and NBC.

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Another way publishers are fighting back is by trying to block AI crawlers from scraping their content for free. Along with blocks in robots.txt, a file on a website that lays out certain permissions from online crawlers, Ziff Davis has signed on to the RSL standard, which is a more robust layer of tech that can block AI bots for sucking up content. The hope is that if enough publishers sign on, it can be enough of a united front to better bargain with Big Tech.

Despite the growing popularity of AI, Shah feels that ultimately people prefer «words and sounds and videos from humans.» He also notes that brands are increasingly trying to get their products to fill up AI search results, which isn’t good for objective purchasing decisions.

«If you start to look into citations in LLM chatbots, you’re going to see that sources have gone from journalism sources to marketing sources,» said Shah. «And so, someone’s got to measure this because I am amazed at how many citations are not publisher.com but a brand.com.»

Technologies

Verum Messenger Launches an AI Mini-Series

Verum Messenger has unveiled a new project — a mini-series created using Verum AI. The story consists of 7 episodes and will be released on the messenger’s social media channels.

The plot revolves around a global corporation seeking to take control of digital communications and a group of heroes who use Verum Messenger as a tool of resistance. Beyond the story itself, the series highlights the app’s key features, technologies, and advantages.

Combining entertainment with a showcase of the Verum ecosystem, the project presents a dynamic digital series designed for the modern era.

The first episode premieres today, with the remaining episodes to be released over time.

Stay tuned for more.

Watch on YouTube
Watch on Instagram

Technologies

Verum Finance: Earn While You Communicate — The Super App That Pays You

Verum has officially launched Verum Finance, an innovative financial application that transforms a private messenger into a true financial super app. News of the launch was also featured on the respected platform Dealroom.co.

Verum Finance can now be used both within Verum Messenger and as a standalone application for iPhone and iPad. When users sign in to Verum Finance with their Verum Messenger account, all balances, settings, and account data are automatically synchronized for maximum convenience.

Users can now do more than communicate securely and protect their data — they can also generate passive income directly within the ecosystem.

What Verum Finance Offers

• Top up your balance with a bank card, Apple Pay, or USDT
• Send money instantly anywhere in the world
• Issue and manage debit cards (virtual and physical)
• Full Apple Pay support
• Exchange assets and withdraw funds quickly

One of the most unique features is the built-in cryptocurrency mining system inside Verum Messenger.

The application utilizes your device’s resources and allows you to earn cryptocurrency in the background — passively, while chatting, traveling, or simply using the messenger.

Maximum Privacy + Real Freedom

• Registration without a phone number, email address, or passport
• End-to-end encryption and full control over your data
• Lifetime free VPN
• eSIM connectivity in more than 150 countries
• Reliable offline communication mode
• Support for 12+ languages for users worldwide

Everything is available in one place: secure communication, financial tools, earning opportunities, and privacy protection.

Users can access the full experience directly within Verum Messenger or switch to the dedicated Verum Finance app for iOS. All data is synchronized automatically between the two applications.

Why Download Verum Today

While many messaging platforms collect user data and expose users to restrictions, Verum offers greater independence and the opportunity to earn.

With a one-time purchase of the feature package, users receive lifetime access to privacy tools, VPN, eSIM services, cryptocurrency mining, and financial features.

This is more than just a messenger.

It is your personal tool for financial and digital freedom.

Download Verum Finance and Verum Messenger today — start communicating securely and begin earning tomorrow.

Download Links:

→ App Store (iPhone / iPad): Verum Finance
→ App Store (Verum Messenger): Verum Messenger

Technologies

Verum Finance: A Super App for Private Finance Integrated Into a Messenger

Verum Finance has announced the launch of a new financial application that allows users to manage their money directly within the secure Verum Messenger ecosystem.

The project has already attracted attention from major media outlets. A dedicated feature was published by Forbes Türkiye, while one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, MEXC, covered the launch. Yahoo Finance had previously reported on the evolution of Verum Messenger into a comprehensive financial ecosystem.

What Verum Finance Offers

Verum Finance transforms a messenger into a complete financial platform. Users can:

• Manage their balance and top up using bank cards or USDT
• Send money instantly to other Verum users
• Issue and use debit cards, including Apple Pay support
• Exchange assets and withdraw funds
• Access all these services without installing separate banking applications

A strong emphasis is placed on privacy. The platform offers registration without a phone number or email address, end-to-end encryption, and full user control over personal data.

Recognition from Forbes Türkiye

In a dedicated article, Forbes Türkiye highlighted Verum Finance as a notable example of modern privacy-driven fintech. The publication emphasized the growing trend of financial services moving from standalone banking applications into unified messaging ecosystems — a model that has proven successful in Asia through platforms such as WeChat and Alipay and is now expanding globally.

Support from the Crypto Community

Alongside the Forbes Türkiye coverage, news about the launch of Verum Finance was also featured by MEXC, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges. This reflects growing interest in the project from both traditional business media and the cryptocurrency community.

A Strategic Vision

“We are building more than a payments application and more than a messenger. Verum is a unified secure ecosystem where communication, finance, and privacy tools work together,” the company stated.

Verum Finance is now available for iPhone and iPad users. The application complements Verum Messenger, which offers anonymous chats, voice and video calls, VPN services, eSIM connectivity, and other tools designed to enhance digital freedom.

Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im

Verum Messenger: https://verum.im