Editorial illustration for Akamai data shows AI training bots and content‑fetching bots rise since July
AI Training Bots Surge: Akamai's Web Crawling Insights
Akamai data shows AI training bots and content‑fetching bots rise since July
Akamai’s recent traffic report paints a clear picture: bots built for AI model training have been inching upward month after month, beginning in July of last year. At the same time, the volume of automated crawlers that pull web content for AI assistants is also on the rise, suggesting a broader shift in how machines interact with the open internet. The trend isn’t limited to a niche of developers; it touches every site that serves data, from news portals to e‑commerce platforms.
For operators, the growing share of non‑human visits raises questions about bandwidth planning, security monitoring, and the accuracy of analytics dashboards that traditionally assume human users. As these numbers climb, the industry is forced to reckon with a new baseline of background traffic that wasn’t on the radar a year ago.
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According to the data from Akamai, training‑related bot traffic has been rising steadily since last July. Meanwhile, global activity from bots fetching web content for AI agents is also on the upswing. “AI is changing the web as we know it,” Robert Blumofe, Akamai’s chief technology officer, tells W.
According to the data from Akamai, training-related bot traffic has been rising steadily since last July. Meanwhile, global activity from bots fetching web content for AI agents is also on the upswing. "AI is changing the web as we know it," Robert Blumofe, Akamai's chief technology officer, tells WIRED "The ensuing arms race will determine the future look, feel, and functionality of the web, as well as the basics of doing business." In the fourth quarter of 2025, TollBit estimates that an average of one out of every 50 visits to its customers' websites was from an AI scraping bot.
AI bots now account for a meaningful share of web traffic, according to Akamai's latest measurements. Growth is evident. Since July, training‑related bot traffic has risen steadily, a trend the company highlights in its report.
Global activity from bots that fetch content for AI agents is also on the upswing, suggesting a broader shift in how data is accessed. Robert Blumofe, Akamai's CTO, says the phenomenon is changing the web as we know it. Yet the extent to which autonomous agents might dominate the internet remains unclear.
The data does not reveal what proportion of overall traffic these bots represent, nor how their growth compares to human‑generated requests. Moreover, the report offers no insight into the purposes behind the increased fetching activity—whether for model improvement, commercial services, or other uses. As the numbers climb, questions about bandwidth allocation, site performance, and potential mitigation strategies will likely surface.
Stakeholders will need more granular metrics before drawing firm conclusions about the long‑term impact of AI‑driven bots on the web.
Further Reading
- AI bots traffic has surged 300%, is disrupting online business - The Economic Times
- Akamai and Visa Team on Agentic Commerce Controls - Digital Transactions
- AI Bots and Shoppers Redefine 2025 Internet Trends - AI CERTs
- APAC Businesses Encountered Over 10.5 Billion AI Bots in Just Two ... - Cybersecurity Asia
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Common Questions Answered
How has AI bot traffic changed since July according to Akamai's report?
[akamai.com](https://www.akamai.com) reports that training-related bot traffic has been rising steadily since July of last year. The volume of automated crawlers pulling web content for AI assistants is also increasing, indicating a significant shift in how machines interact with online data.
What impact are AI bots having on web infrastructure and business models?
According to Akamai's CTO Robert Blumofe, AI is fundamentally changing the web as we know it, creating an 'arms race' that will reshape web functionality and business operations. The increasing presence of AI bots is disrupting traditional web interactions, with bots now accounting for a meaningful share of web traffic.
What types of AI bots are most prevalent in current web traffic?
[economictimes.com](https://m.economictimes.com) highlights two primary types of AI bots: training-related bots and content-fetching bots for AI assistants. These bots are particularly impactful in sectors like publishing, with 63% of AI bot triggers occurring in content-driven businesses, potentially extracting value without providing direct compensation.