💰 The $13 billion scam of AI-generated websites

💰 Billions Wasted: The Costly Global Phenomenon of AI-Generated Junk Sites

Did you know those junk websites filled with AI-generated gibberish are actually making some serious money from programmatic ads?

Yep, more than 140 big brands are unwittingly coughing up cash for ads on these unreliable sites. It's like buying a mystery box and hoping for the best!

Turns out, most online advertisers play the bidding game, resulting in major companies paying for ad spots on sites they've never even heard of.

These content farms, manned by underpaid humans and powered by AI, churn out low-quality content to reel in those sweet ad dollars.

It is estimated that around $13 billion is wasted globally on these sites each year. The worst part is that 90% of the ads on these junk sites are served by Google.

So, next time you spot a fancy brand ad on a sketchy site, don't jump to conclusions. It might be an unintentional digital adventure!

Rapid Rundown

• 💰 AI-generated content farms make money from programmatic ads.

• 🤖 Content farms use AI to churn out low-quality content to attract ad dollars.

📺 Netflix Secretly Axe Basic Plan in Canada

Hey, Canada! If you were thinking of signing up for Netflix’s Basic plan, we have some bad news for you. It’s gone. Kaput. Finito.

That’s right. Netflix has quietly axed the $9.99 CAD per month plan that offered ad-free streaming in 720p and one stream at a time. Now, you have two options: the ad-supported plan for $5.99 CAD per month or the Standard plan for $16.99 CAD per month.

The ad-supported plan gives you most of the Netflix catalog in 1080p and two streams at a time. But you have to watch ads and you can’t download anything. The Standard plan lets you enjoy Netflix without ads and with downloads.

If you are already on the Basic plan, don’t worry. You can keep it until you cancel or change plans. But if you are new or rejoining, you are out of luck.

Rapid Rundown

• 🚫 Netflix Canada drops Basic plan for new subscribers.

• 📺 Ad-supported or Standard plans are the only options left.

🌎 Moonshot Factory's Taara Project: Connecting the Unconnected

Google's parent company, Alphabet’s innovation lab, X (also known as the “Moonshot Factory”), has a new project called Taara.

After their high-altitude balloon internet project failed due to high costs, they’re now using beams of light to deliver internet to remote areas.

Taara is already linking up internet services in 13 countries, including Australia, Kenya, and Fiji. They're even teaming up with Bharti Airtel, one of India's big telecom providers, to beam that internet goodness across India.

At the size of traffic lights, these laser-shooting machines transmit data like fiber-optic internet without pesky cables.

This technology is making waves and may even revolutionize internet connectivity in both rural and urban areas.

Rapid Rundown

• 💡 Taara uses beams of light to deliver internet to remote areas.

• 🌎 Taara is already active in 13 countries and expanding.

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