The Creator Startup Banning AI Bots

Nearly everywhere I look, I’m seeing signs of how artificial intelligence is shaking up the way we engage online, from shopping to social media. OpenAI is reportedly working on a new checkout feature, betting that more consumers will turn to chatbots like its ChatGPT to find and purchase products. At the same time, I’m seeing an influx of realistic AI videos on my social media feeds, while a new generation of virtual influencers is fooling people into thinking they’re human. 

That means social media giants and creator startups have to grapple with both issues: how to respond to the potential business threat of AI—and how to benefit from it. LTK, a creator commerce app, is an example of how founders are trying to thread the AI needle. The Dallas-based startup takes a hard line on AI when it comes to creating content. But it’s incorporating AI into some tools for creators.