Ben Thompson argues public internet is dead, AI security risks rising
Ben Thompson, writing for Stratechery, argues that the traditional public internet model has effectively collapsed due to content saturation, algorithmic aggregation, and escalating security threats. He notes that while early blogs and social media offered free distribution, they ultimately failed economically because infinite competition diluted value. The rise of AI has exacerbated these…
Key points
- Thompson argues public internet failed due to saturation and AI-driven security vulnerabilities.
- Subscription models and private group chats are replacing public social media for sustainable engagement.
- AI enables individuals to build custom software for small audiences, changing development economics.
Thompson suggests that the future of digital interaction lies in smaller, private, and high-trust environments rather than public platforms. He points to the success of subscription-based newsletters and private group chats as evidence that users prefer curated, limited audiences over open, noisy feeds. This shift is not just social but economic; by limiting access, creators can sustain viable business models without relying on ad revenue.
The article also highlights how AI changes software development economics. With the ability to generate code quickly, individuals can now build custom applications for themselves or small teams without needing a large market to justify the upfront cost. Thompson concludes that while the public internet may become a "wasteland" of slop and security risks, this creates a new market for personalized, private software tools tailored to specific groups.
The public internet model is effectively dead due to saturation, algorithmic aggregators, and AI security vulnerabilities, and that may open new possibilities
stratechery.com · 26 October 2026
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