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International Business Times UK

Technology

Vinay Patel

AI Startup Overruns Reddit With Spam: Is This The End Of Authentic Online Forums?

Reddit Astral Alexis Ohanian Flood United States Gizmodo Google

A startup is deploying AI agents to infiltrate Reddit with marketing content disguised as authentic user posts, raising serious concerns about the platform's integrity. (Credit: X / Mike Moloney @moloneymike)

Reddit could soon be flooded with an overwhelming wave of AI-powered marketing campaigns, thanks to Astral, a tech startup with ambitious plans.

Astral boldly positions itself as a '24/7 AI startup that works to grow your business,' relentlessly promoting any brand, at any time. In a recent demonstration shared on X (formerly Twitter) and captured by Gizmodo, Astral's founder, Savannah Feder, showcased how the system can rapidly flood Reddit with ads disguised as genuine user posts.

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