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Sam Altman Raises Alarm: Are Bots Making Social Media 'Fake'?

Cansin Cengiz

08 Sep 2025 — 3 min read

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and active Reddit shareholder, recently voiced growing concerns about the authenticity of social media content in the age of advanced AI bots. In a candid discussion on X (formerly Twitter), Altman shared his realization that it has become increasingly difficult to tell if posts are written by humans or bots—even on platforms he knows well.

The Blurred Line Between Human and AI Content

Altman's moment of doubt occurred while browsing the r/Claudecode subreddit, where users were enthusiastically discussing OpenAI's new programming assistant, Codex. The sudden flood of positive posts led Altman to question their authenticity, writing:

Are these posts from real users or automated bots?
Have humans begun to mimic the language patterns of large language models (LLMs)?

Altman noted that the "Extremely Online" crowd often adopts similar language quirks—sometimes indistinguishable from actual AI-generated content.

Altman outlined several reasons behind the "fake" feeling permeating platforms:

Human users unconsciously adopt LLM-style phrasing.
Communities online tend to move in sync, amplifying trends and hype cycles.
Platforms and creators are incentivized to maximize engagement, sometimes by any means necessary.
Astroturfing—where posts are paid for by competitors or third parties—further muddies the waters.
And yes, the presence of actual bots can't be ignored.

Astroturfing and the Bot Dilemma

Astroturfing—covert marketing or influence operations—has become a major concern. While there's no concrete evidence of such tactics in the Codex subreddit, Altman admitted being "extra sensitive" to it, especially after seeing how quickly online sentiment can shift, as witnessed with the mixed reception to OpenAI's GPT-5 release.

His open acknowledgment of challenges during the GPT-5 rollout, and the subsequent backlash on Reddit, only highlights how difficult it is to gauge genuine user sentiment in today's environment.

Just How Many Bots Are Out There?

Recent data suggests the issue is widespread:

In 2024, over half of all internet traffic was non-human, driven by bots and LLMs (Imperva's Bad Bot Report).
X's own bot, Grok, estimates hundreds of millions of bots are active on the platform.

This proliferation raises questions about the reliability of online discussions, reviews, and even community sentiment.

Some speculate that Altman's comments are a prelude to OpenAI's rumored entry into the social media space. Whether that's true or not, the challenge remains: Can any platform truly be "bot-free"?

Intriguingly, research from the University of Amsterdam found that when bots populate a social network, they quickly form their own cliques and echo chambers—mirroring human online behavior. This suggests that whether run by bots or humans, social media might always be prone to the same pitfalls.

What Does This Mean for Businesses?

For business owners and marketers, Altman's warning is timely. The rise of AI-generated content means:

Authenticity is more valuable—and harder to prove—than ever.
Engagement metrics may be skewed by non-human actors.
Staying vigilant and transparent is key to building real trust with your audience.

Conclusion

As AI continues to evolve and blend seamlessly into online spaces, the distinction between genuine human interaction and automation grows blurrier. Whether you're a business owner, developer, or social media user, recognizing these changes is crucial for navigating the digital landscape ahead.