The Hidden Cost of ‘Free’ AI: What You’re Really Losing When You Ask ChatGPT

Android Headlines: “Every time you ask ChatGPT for an answer, another website fades into silence. In a landmark lawsuit, Ziff Davis takes on OpenAI—and the fight could decide who owns the soul of the internet…The convenience of AI makes it feel free, even magical. But it’s not. The models powering those instant responses were built on the backs of millions of writers, artists, journalists, and creators—most of whom were never asked, never paid, and now find their livelihoods quietly evaporating. This isn’t just a copyright issue. It’s a slow bleed of the internet’s soul. A death by a thousand cuts, if you will. And now, a new lawsuit from Ziff Davis, one of the biggest digital publishers on the internet, is trying to stop it before it’s too late…[h/t Pete Weiss]

So, what happens next?

1. AI scrapes existing content
2. Website traffic drops
3. Creators lose income and stop producing.
4. New content dries up.
5. AI’s answers get worse, not better