Artificial intelligence is changing how the internet works, and bot traffic may soon become more common than human activity online. According to Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince, AI-powered bots could generate more internet traffic than humans by the year 2027.
Speaking at the SXSW conference in Austin, Prince explained that the rapid growth of generative AI is increasing the number of automated systems that browse the web. These bots are used by AI tools to collect information, answer questions, and complete tasks for users.
He said that when a person searches online, they may visit only a few websites, but AI agents can visit thousands of pages to find the best result. For example, if someone is looking to buy a digital camera, a human might check five websites, while an AI bot could scan thousands of sites in seconds. This creates a much heavier load on the internet compared to normal human activity.
Prince noted that before the rise of generative AI, bot traffic made up only about 20 percent of total internet usage. Most of these bots were search engine crawlers, such as those used by major search platforms, along with a small number of malicious bots created for scams or hacking. However, the situation is changing quickly as AI systems now require huge amounts of data to function.
Because of this growing demand, Cloudflare expects automated traffic to continue increasing over the next few years. The company believes that by 2027, bots could generate more web traffic than real users, marking a major shift in how the internet operates.
To manage this change, new technologies may be needed. Prince suggested the use of temporary virtual environments, often called sandboxes, where AI agents can safely perform tasks such as booking travel, comparing products, or collecting data. These environments could be created instantly and removed once the task is completed.
He also explained that the rise in automated traffic will require stronger infrastructure, including more data centers and faster servers. During the COVID-19 period, internet usage increased sharply due to video streaming and online services, putting pressure on global networks. However, Prince said the current growth caused by AI is more gradual but constant, and it does not appear to be slowing down.
This trend is also creating new business opportunities for companies like Cloudflare, which provides security, performance, and content delivery services for websites. The company helps businesses keep their websites online, protect against cyberattacks, and manage heavy traffic loads. It also offers tools that allow website owners to control or block unwanted AI bot activity.
Prince described artificial intelligence as a major platform shift, similar to the move from desktop computers to mobile devices. He believes AI will completely change how people access information in the future, with automated systems playing a much larger role in everyday internet use.
Source: International technology and business reports
