How AI Makes Money and Changes the Internet
How AI Makes Money and Changes the Internet
AI 如何獲利並改變網路
Introduction
AI companies now want users to pay monthly fees. This change also changes how people and bots use the internet.
AI 公司現在希望使用者支付月費。這一改變也影響了人類與機器人使用網路的方式。
Main Body
Some people use AI for free. Other people pay for better AI tools. More people are paying now than last year. OpenAI says AI costs a lot of money to run, so they need these payments.
有些人免費使用 AI。而有些人則支付費用以獲取更好的 AI 工具。目前付費的人數比去年更多。OpenAI 表示 AI 的運行成本很高，因此他們需要這些款項。
Many bots now use the internet. In fact, more bots use the web than humans. Bots do research for people. This happens a lot in North America, but less in Asia.
現在許多機器人都在使用網路。事實上，使用網路的機器人比人類還多。機器人會為人類進行研究。這在北美非常普遍，但在亞洲則較少。
Meta and other companies are changing. Meta made a paid service for Instagram. They also use AI to talk to customers. Meta cut 10% of its workers to spend more money on AI.
Meta 及其他公司正在做出改變。Meta 為 Instagram 推出了付費服務。他們也使用 AI 與客戶溝通。Meta 裁減了 10% 的員工，以便將更多資金投入 AI。
Conclusion
AI is not a toy anymore. It is a big part of the internet. Companies need new ways to make money because old ads do not work with bots.
AI 不再僅僅是玩具，而是網路的重要組成部分。由於傳統廣告對機器人無效，公司需要尋找新的獲利方式。
Vocabulary Learning
The 'Comparing Groups' Pattern
In this text, we see how to describe two different groups of people or things. This is a key skill for A2 English.
1. Some vs. Other
- Some people use AI for free.
- Other people pay for tools.
→ Use this when you want to split a group into two different habits.
2. More vs. Less
- More bots use the web than humans.
- This happens more in North America, but less in Asia.
→ Use More (↑) and Less (↓) to show the difference in size or frequency between two places or things.
3. Simple Word Swap
- Old ads Do not work
- New ways Make money
→ Notice how the text connects an object (ads/ways) directly to a result (work/money). Keep your sentences short: [Thing] + [Action].
Vocabulary Learning
How AI is Changing the Way Companies Make Money and How We Use the Internet
AI 如何改變企業獲利方式以及我們使用網路的方式
Introduction
The artificial intelligence industry is currently moving toward subscription-based payment models, which is also changing the way internet traffic works.
人工智慧產業目前正趨向於訂閱制付款模式，這也正在改變網路流量的運作方式。
Main Body
Currently, AI users must choose between free access and paid subscriptions. According to data from the Bank of America Institute, about 3% of households used paid AI services as of February, which is a 10% increase from the previous year. Users generally pay for subscriptions to get more powerful models and special features. OpenAI executives emphasized that while they first used paywalls to manage technical demand, they expect a shift toward 'agentic AI'—systems that can complete complex tasks independently. Because these systems are expensive to run, permanent subscription plans will likely be necessary.
目前，AI 使用者必須在免費存取與付費訂閱之間做出選擇。根據美國銀行研究中心的數據，截至二月，約有 3% 的家庭使用付費 AI 服務，比去年增加 10%。使用者通常支付訂閱費以獲取更強大的模型和特殊功能。OpenAI 高層強調，雖然他們最初使用付費牆來管理技術需求，但預計將轉向「代理式 AI (agentic AI)」——即能夠獨立完成複雜任務的系統。由於這些系統的運行成本昂貴，永久性的訂閱計劃可能是必要的。
At the same time, the structure of the internet is changing. Cloudflare reports that AI bots now create more traffic than humans, accounting for 57.4% of all requests. This is happening because AI agents perform a large amount of research for their users. However, this trend varies by region; for example, North America has a very high bot-to-human ratio, whereas Asia and South America still have more human traffic. Consequently, some people are discussing the 'Dead Internet Theory,' as AI content becomes more common on social media.
與此同時，網路的結構正在改變。Cloudflare 報告指出，AI 機器人目前產生的流量已超過人類，佔所有請求的 57.4%。這是因為 AI 代理為其使用者執行了大量的研究工作。然而，這一趨勢因地區而異；例如，北美的機器人與人類比例非常高，而亞洲和南美洲仍以人類流量為主。因此，隨著 AI 內容在社群媒體上變得更加普遍，有些人開始討論「死網理論 (Dead Internet Theory)」。
Companies are responding to these changes by finding new ways to earn money. Meta has launched 'Instagram Plus' to reduce its dependence on advertising and has introduced AI agents to handle customer service. To fund these AI investments, Meta also reduced its workforce by 10%. Furthermore, analysts suggest that in the future, AI services might be bundled with other utilities, or AI agents might be charged to access human-created content to keep the web free for people.
企業正透過尋找新的獲利方式來應對這些變化。Meta 推出了「Instagram Plus」以減少對廣告的依賴，並引入 AI 代理來處理客戶服務。為了資助這些 AI 投資，Meta 還削減了 10% 的人力。此外，分析師建議，未來 AI 服務可能會與其他工具綑綁銷售，或者對 AI 代理存取人類創作的內容收取費用，以維持網路對人類的免費開放。
Conclusion
AI is changing from a simple tool into a basic part of the internet, which means we need new economic systems to replace traditional advertising.
AI 正在從一個簡單的工具變成網路的基本組成部分，這意味著我們需要新的經濟系統來取代傳統廣告。
Vocabulary Learning
⚡ The 'B2 Jump': Moving from Simple to Logical Connections
At the A2 level, students often write sentences like: "AI is expensive. Companies want money. They use subscriptions." It is correct, but it sounds like a list. To reach B2, you must use Connectors of Cause and Effect to show how ideas relate to one another.
🔍 Analysis of the Text
Look at how the article connects complex ideas. It doesn't just give facts; it explains why things happen:
- "Because these systems are expensive to run, permanent subscription plans will likely be necessary."
- "Consequently, some people are discussing the 'Dead Internet Theory'..."
- "To fund these AI investments, Meta also reduced its workforce..."
🛠️ The Tool Kit: Logical Bridges
| A2 Style (Simple) | B2 Style (Professional/Fluid) | Why it's better |
|---|---|---|
| So | Consequently / Therefore | Sounds more objective and formal. |
| Because | Due to the fact that / Since | Adds variety to your sentence starts. |
| To (do something) | In order to / To fund... | Clearly defines the purpose of an action. |
💡 Pro-Tip: The 'Result' Shift
Notice the word "Consequently." Instead of starting a sentence with "So," try moving the result to a new sentence starting with Consequently.
- A2: AI makes a lot of content, so the internet feels dead.
- B2: AI generates a vast amount of content. Consequently, the internet begins to feel artificial.
Vocabulary Spotlight:
- Dependence (noun) Dependent (adj): B2 learners move from basic verbs to using noun forms to describe states of being (e.g., "reduce its dependence on advertising").
Vocabulary Learning
The Evolution of Artificial Intelligence Monetization and its Impact on Global Web Traffic Patterns
人工智慧變現的演變及其對全球網路流量模式的影響
Introduction
The artificial intelligence sector is currently undergoing a transition toward subscription-based revenue models while simultaneously altering the fundamental nature of internet traffic.
人工智慧領域目前正處於向訂閱制收入模式過渡的階段，同時也在改變網際網路流量的基本性質。
Main Body
The current consumer landscape for AI is characterized by a dichotomy between free access and premium subscriptions. Data from the Bank of America Institute indicates that as of February, approximately 3% of households utilized paid AI services, though this figure represents a 10% year-over-year increase. The primary incentive for subscription is the acquisition of higher-capacity models and specialized features, such as the creation of tailored AI personas. OpenAI executives have stated that while the initial implementation of paywalls was intended to manage computational demand rather than maximize profit, the company anticipates a future shift toward 'agentic AI'—autonomous systems capable of executing complex tasks—which may necessitate permanent subscription tiers due to high operational costs.
目前的 AI 消費者格局呈現出免費訪問與高級訂閱之間的兩極分化。美國銀行研究院的數據顯示，截至二月，約有 3% 的家庭使用付費 AI 服務，儘管這一數字代表年增長 10%。訂閱的主要動力在於獲取更高容量的模型與專門功能，例如創建量身定制的 AI 人格。OpenAI 高層表示，雖然最初實施付費牆旨在管理計算需求而非最大化利潤，但公司預計未來將轉向「代理型 AI」——即能夠執行複雜任務的自主系統——由於運作成本高昂，這可能需要永久的訂閱層級。
Parallel to these monetization efforts, a systemic shift in internet architecture has occurred. Cloudflare reports that agentic AI traffic has surpassed human-generated requests, with automated bots now accounting for 57.4% of total traffic. This phenomenon is attributed to the high volume of requests generated by AI agents performing research on behalf of users. Regional disparities are evident; North America exhibits a higher bot-to-human ratio (68.6% to 31.4%), whereas regions such as Asia and South America maintain a human-centric traffic majority. This trend has revitalized discourse regarding the 'Dead Internet Theory,' as AI-generated content increasingly permeates social media and digital publishing.
與這些變現努力平行的是，網際網路架構發生了系統性轉移。Cloudflare 報告指出，代理型 AI 流量已超過人類生成的請求，自動化機器人目前佔總流量的 57.4%。這一現象歸因於 AI 代理代表用戶進行研究而產生的海量請求。區域差異十分明顯；北美表現出較高的機器人與人類比例（68.6% 對 31.4%），而亞洲與南美等地區則維持以人類流量為主。這一趨勢使關於「死網論」的討論重新升溫，因為 AI 生成的內容日益滲透到社群媒體與數位出版物中。
Institutional responses to these shifts include the diversification of revenue streams. Meta has introduced 'Instagram Plus,' a subscription service designed to reduce reliance on advertising revenue. Simultaneously, Meta has deployed business-oriented AI agents to automate customer interactions. This strategic pivot is accompanied by significant organizational restructuring, including a 10% reduction in workforce to facilitate AI investment. Furthermore, industry analysts suggest that future economic models may involve bundling AI services with existing utilities or implementing a system where AI agents are charged for accessing human-generated content to sustain a free web for human users.
機構對此轉變的反應包括將收入來源多元化。Meta 推出了「Instagram Plus」，這是一項旨在減少對廣告收入依賴的訂閱服務。同時，Meta 部署了面向企業的 AI 代理以自動化客戶互動。這一戰略轉向伴隨著重大的組織重組，包括裁減 10% 的員工以促進 AI 投資。此外，行業分析師建議，未來的經濟模型可能涉及將 AI 服務與現有工具綑綁，或實施一套對訪問人類生成內容的 AI 代理收費的系統，以維持人類用戶的免費網路環境。
Conclusion
AI is transitioning from a novelty tool to a structural component of the internet, necessitating new economic frameworks to replace traditional advertising models.
AI 正從一個新奇工具轉變為網際網路的結構性組成部分，因此需要新的經濟框架來取代傳統的廣告模式。
Vocabulary Learning
The Architecture of Conceptual Density
To bridge the gap from B2 to C2, a student must move beyond 'correct' grammar and master Lexical Precision and Nominalization. The provided text is a prime specimen of Academic Formalism, where actions are transformed into concepts to create a sense of objective authority.
◈ The Nominalization Pivot
Observe how the text avoids simple verbs. Instead of saying "AI is changing how the internet works," it employs:
*"...altering the fundamental nature of internet traffic."
At C2, we don't just describe a change; we describe the nature of that change. Note the use of "Systemic shift" and "Strategic pivot." These are not mere synonyms for 'change'; they denote a structural, intentional, and comprehensive transformation.
◈ The 'Dichotomy' Framework
B2 learners often use "on the one hand... on the other hand." The C2 writer replaces this with a conceptual framework:
"The current consumer landscape... is characterized by a dichotomy between..."
Analysis: By framing the contrast as a dichotomy, the author elevates the observation from a simple comparison to a theoretical classification. This is the hallmark of C2 discourse: treating a situation as a phenomenon to be analyzed rather than a story to be told.
◈ Nuanced Causality: 'Attributed to' vs. 'Because of'
While "because of" is functionally correct, it is linguistically pedestrian. The text utilizes:
- "This phenomenon is attributed to..."
- "...necessitate permanent subscription tiers due to..."
The C2 Edge: Use "attributed to" when you are assigning a cause to a complex trend, and "necessitate" when a situation makes a specific outcome inevitable. This replaces the basic "need" or "cause" with terms that imply logical necessity and analytical rigor.
◈ High-Level Collocations for Mastery
To achieve a C2 profile, integrate these specific pairings found in the text into your professional lexicon:
| Collocation | Nuance |
|---|---|
| Permeates social media | To spread through every part of something (more precise than 'fills'). |
| Diversification of revenue | The strategic act of expanding income sources to reduce risk. |
| Regional disparities | A formal way to describe inequalities or differences between areas. |
| Structural component | Something that is no longer an 'add-on' but essential to the foundation. |