New report claims bot traffic is growing 6.5 times faster than human users — is this the end of the useful internet as we know it?

AI bot traffic grew 6.5 times faster than human traffic in early 2026, according to Fastly's network analysis. Unlike human requests, over half of AI requests bypass cached content, straining server infrastructure. Publishers now face pressure to rethink monetization and audience reach as AI agents increasingly replace direct human browsing.