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The Decoder
Pew study confirms sharp rise of AI-written text on the web since ChatGPT's launch
The Pew Research Center's analysis indicates a notable rise in AI-generated content online following ChatGPT's launch. Examining nearly half a million web pages, it found that over one-third of pages published after ChatGPT's release exhibit signs of AI authorship, significantly higher than pre-2022 figures. The study highlights an increased use of certain language patterns and phrases characteristic of AI writing, emphasizing the need for clearer definitions of 'AI text' amidst polarized public discourse.
MonitorConfidence: MediumShort term horizon
Published 24 Aug 2026, 20:10 UTC3 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- Over one-third of web pages published post-ChatGPT show AI authorship.
- AI-written text is ten times more prevalent on commercial (.com) sites compared to educational and government sites.
- The share of machine-written text has risen steadily since late 2022.
- Pew's study reveals increased use of specific language patterns associated with AI writing.
- Public perception around AI-generated content remains polarized.
Interesting facts
- Em dash usage among AI texts has doubled since 2023.
- The phrase 'it's not just X, it's Y' quadrupled in corporate PR documents since 2022.