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Bots outnumber humans online. What does it mean for the future of the internet?

NPR | By Wailin Wong,
Adrian Ma
Published October 29, 2026 at 3:46 AM CDT

Bots now outnumber people online, with consequences for the economics of the internet. How does it change the way users access and pay for all the stuff done online?

Copyright 2026 NPR
Wailin Wong
Wailin Wong is a co-host of The Indicator from Planet Money.
Adrian Ma
Adrian Ma covers work, money and other "business-ish" for The Indicator from Planet Money, the daily economics podcast from NPR.