Digg’s founders explain how they’re building a site for humans in the AI era

The relaunched Digg social platform seeks to recapture the essence of authentic online interactions at a time when AI-generated content threatens to drown out genuine human voices. The founders, Kevin Rose and Alexis Ohanian, envision a space where content creators and community managers have a significant role in the platform's success. Once a notable player in news aggregation valued at $175 million in 2008, Digg is now being revitalized with a clear focus on discovery and community engagement reminiscent of the early internet. During a discussion at The Wall Street Journal’s Future of Everything conference, the founders addressed their vision for Digg’s future, reflecting on the challenges faced in the early days of social media. Ohanian recounted his resignation from Reddit's board due to disagreements over the platform's handling of hate speech, particularly highlighting a controversial forum that operated until the Christchurch mass shooting forced policy changes. Following his time at Reddit, Ohanian founded a venture capital firm, Seven Seven Six, aimed at supporting businesses aligned with positive values, and he sees Digg as a continuation of this mission. Rose shared insights on the early use of machine learning in social media, noting that it often rewarded content that fostered fringe discussions and sometimes harmful agendas. They emphasized their commitment to creating a community focused on serving real users rather than bots or AI. Ohanian referenced the 'dead internet theory,' which suggests that a significant portion of online content is produced by bots rather than humans. He explained that this theory has gained traction as AI technologies have advanced, warning that social media users may not fully grasp how much content they encounter is AI-generated or influenced. To counteract the rising presence of bots, the founders are exploring innovative technologies like zero-knowledge proofs, which could help confirm a user's humanity before they participate in discussions. They envision a platform where community administrators can verify users, ensuring that conversations remain authentic. Rose highlighted the inevitability of an influx of bots and AI agents, which could disrupt genuine human interactions. He noted a recent incident where researchers used AI bots to simulate real users on Reddit, raising concerns about the future of authentic engagement online. Ohanian asserted that the prevalence of AI-generated content could lead to a disappointing experience for users seeking real connections. The founders proposed various methods to distinguish human users from bots, such as considering the duration of device ownership or implementing tiered services based on user verification practices. They clarified that they are not opposed to AI, intending to utilize it for moderation and conflict resolution on the platform. Moreover, they advocate for fair compensation for moderators and content creators, arguing that unpaid contributions from users who invest effort into building communities should be acknowledged. Rose criticized Reddit's approach to trademarking community names like 'WallStreetBets,' advocating instead for platforms to support creators who enhance community value. Ultimately, the duo believes that aligning the business model with the interests of all stakeholders will pave the way for Digg's success.