A new large-scale study by Ahrefs which is also one of the most widely used SEO and web analytics platforms, has revealed that 74.2% of newly created web pages in April 2025 include AI-generated content.
Yes, nearly three out of every four web pages launched last month involved artificial intelligence in the content creation process. This data is not speculative.
It comes from an in-house AI content detector developed by Ahrefs’ machine learning team also known as bot_or_not which is built specifically to identify the fingerprints of generative AI.
This detector was tested on an immense sample of 900,000 English-language web pages each from a unique domain discovered by their crawler in April 2025.
The Internet is Already Mostly AI-Written and We Just Noticed
The findings from Ahrefs are eye-opening and even for those of us already immersed in the world of generative AI. Of the 900,000 pages analyzed:
- Only 2.5% were “pure AI” which means ; nearly all of the content was generated without human editing.
- 25.8% were “pure human,” showing no significant AI traces.
- The vast majority—71.7% were a blend of human and AI content.
Among these hybrid cases, the levels of AI use varied:
- Around 25.86% had moderate AI input (11% to 40% of content).
- 20.50% showed substantial AI use (41% to 70%).
- Another 15.51% displayed dominant AI authorship (71% to 99%).
So, while full automation is not yet the default, what we are seeing is the rise of a hybrid publishing model. Writers and creators are using AI as co-pilots and mainly for drafting intros, summarizing research, rewriting content in different tones or filling out outlines in seconds.
From Gmail to Slack to LinkedIn- AI is Everywhere
What is fueling this trend? The answer is deceptively simple that generative AI is everywhere.
Generative AI is no longer just a separate tool you open when needed. It is integrated right into the platforms you use every day. Open Google Docs and you are offered help drafting paragraphs.
Gmail also offers you AI-suggested email replies. Slack summarizes long threads with bots. And what not? LinkedIn suggests post topics and hashtags using AI. Even Grammarly, originally just a grammar tool, now includes rewrite and tone adjustment capabilities powered by generative models.
As Ryan Law, VP of Content at Ahrefs, aptly pointed out in a recent X post:
https://x.com/thinking_slow/status/1924496375976214655
“This blew my mind, but the truth is, it’s actively DIFFICULT to avoid generative AI today. Even ignoring ChatGPT, generative AI is in Google Docs and Gmail, in Slack and Grammarly, in LinkedIn and X. Generated text is spreading through the fabric of the internet.”
Once you notice it, you realize that the AI-generated content is not coming, it is already here. And in many cases, you have been consuming it without even realizing it.
Validation From Marketers: The Silent Adaptation of AI
If you think this is just a few power users skewing the stats, think again. Ahrefs also surveyed 879 content marketers and the results speak volumes:
- 87% admitted to using AI to either create or assist in content creation.
- Only 13% said they do not use AI at all.
And the most common content type generated with AI? No surprise it is blog posts. The demand for fresh content, the time constraints and the repetitive nature of SEO-driven writing make it a perfect candidate for generative tools.
What This Means for SEO, Content Credibility and The Future of Web
So what happens to the internet when most new content is written, in parts by AI tools?
First there is concern about content saturation. If generative AI tools make it easy to flood the web with optimized, well-structured content then it becomes harder for genuinely original voices to stand out.
Search engines like Google must now work harder to differentiate between content that is merely high-quality in structure and content that carries real experience and originality.
Second, trust becomes a critical factor. How do readers know whether what they are consuming is based on genuine human thought, emotion or experience not just from LLM (Large Learning Modules).
Can AI Content Be Detected—and Should It?
Ahrefs’ new AI detector, bot_or_not, will soon be available for all users inside the Site Explorer’s Page Inspect tool. While no AI content detector is perfect, Ahrefs acknowledges this and frames it within context.
As Ryan Law notes:
“No AI detector is 100% accurate, but it doesn’t have to be 100% accurate to be extremely useful.”
Much like how SEO professionals rely on imperfect metrics like search volume or backlink counts, content creators can still benefit enormously from AI detection tools to gain insights, benchmark against competitors or track trends.
For example, this tool allows you to:
- Estimate how much AI content appears in your target SERPs.
- Understand which competitors rely heavily on generative content.
- Correlate AI usage with performance metrics like keyword rankings, traffic and backlinks.
- Make strategic decisions about how much AI to integrate or avoid in your content.
The takeaway is not that AI is replacing us. It is that the baseline for content creation has shifted and those who learn to collaborate with AI not fight it will have the better solution.
Looking to stand out from generic AI content and elevate your website’s SEO with added credibility? Check out our AI SEO service.
Dileep Thekkethil
AuthorDileep Thekkethil is the Director of Marketing at Stan Ventures, where he applies over 15 years of SEO and digital marketing expertise to drive growth and authority. A former journalist with six years of experience, he combines strategic storytelling with technical know-how to help brands navigate the shift toward AI-driven search and generative engines. Dileep is a strong advocate for Google’s EEAT standards, regularly sharing real-world use cases and scenarios to demystify complex marketing trends. He is an avid gardener of tropical fruits, a motor enthusiast, and a dedicated caretaker of his pair of cockatiels.