[microtonal]

They might lose entirely (search, social media, etc.) if users are more likely to direct their eyeballs to "AI" services.

Sorry that I wasn't clear enough. That was what I was trying to imply - in that case the ad purchases that currently go to Google etc. will go to a new AI company. This is why both Google is investing so heavily in LLMs, they know that LLMs can kill search + website visits and thus cause them to lose their ad income.

But either way, it's questionable if it will increase all ad spending. So either AI companies collapse and a lot of VC money is burned or Google et al. collapse and a lot capital is burned (pension funds and whatnot).

[NuclearPM]

This is why Google has android and chrome, and why Facebook bought WhatsApp and Instagram. It isn’t so much about spending billions on growth, it is about hedging their bets and protecting their monopolistic cash cows.

[9rx]

Why would ad spending need to increase? Google, Meta, et al. collapsing and an "AI" business taking their place is fine. The universe doesn't care.