A controversial AI startup named Doublespeed has recently attracted attention after receiving a substantial investment of $1 million from Andreessen Horowitz, a prominent venture capital firm co-founded by Marc Andreessen. The company operates what is known as a “phone farm,” utilizing a network of devices to generate and disseminate spam content across various social media platforms.
This innovative approach to content creation involves leveraging technology that mimics human behavior to enhance engagement on social media. Doublespeed markets itself as a “bulk content creation” service, enabling clients to automate interactions on thousands of social accounts. The company describes its methodology as “instrumented human action,” suggesting that its systems can replicate natural user interactions to trick algorithms into perceiving the generated content as authentic.
Co-founder Zuhair Lakhani has openly stated on social media that the company”s code was developed with the assistance of AI, referring to their AI system as their “third co-founder.” This reflects a growing trend in the tech industry where automation and artificial intelligence are increasingly employed to streamline business operations.
Clients interested in accessing Doublespeed”s services can expect to pay between $1,500 and $7,500 monthly. However, this business model raises significant ethical concerns, as it blatantly violates the terms of service of major social media platforms. Companies like Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, strictly prohibit high-frequency engagement and the manipulation of platform algorithms through spammy practices.
Despite the risks associated with such operations, the rise of AI-powered content generation tools has been met with growing frustration among users. Critics like Cory Doctorow have labeled this trend as “platform decay,” referring to the increasing prevalence of automated accounts that dilute genuine user experiences. Ironically, while platforms struggle with the influx of AI-generated content, many are also implementing AI-driven moderation systems to manage the overwhelming volume of posts, often at the expense of human oversight.
The emergence of a for-profit entity like Doublespeed, focused entirely on monetizing spam, highlights a paradox within the capitalist framework. This development raises important questions about the relationship between technological advancement and ethical responsibility in the digital age.
