Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Key Takeaways The GenAI moment mirrors the early internet’s uncertainty and transformative potential.
AI is reshaping how people define trust, authenticity and digital relevance.
In 1998, if you would have asked where people went to find information, you’d probably hear the library, encyclopedias or the Yellow Pages. If they were particularly tech-savvy, they might have mentioned the quirky new site AltaVista. The idea that the internet could completely upend how we access information and build businesses was, for most, inconceivable.
Today, we’re in a moment much like the early web. Generative AI (GenAI) brings the same mix of promise and uncertainty, reshaping the digital economy and how marketers define trust, authenticity and relevance.
The difference? Back then, we were learning how to get online; now, we’re figuring out what’s real online. And once again, the answers are far from clear.
The new digital land rush
The early 2000s saw the web explode into a land grab. Startups, investors and corporations scrambled to stake their claim. The dot-com bubble eventually burst, but the chaos that followed reshaped modern business. That same sense of frenetic experimentation is happening again with AI. Everyone from Fortune 500s to solo entrepreneurs is testing, iterating and hoping to discover the next big breakthrough.
Despite these parallels, there are also major differences. This time, the evolution is happening at breakneck speed, and it’s profoundly personal. While the early internet connected machines, today’s AI connects minds. It’s conversational, adaptive and capable of mimicking humans in ways that blur the line between what’s real and what’s manufactured. For brands and creators, this has made authenticity essential.
The authenticity crisis
... continue reading