More than one-third of websites made since the launch of ChatGPT exhibit indications of AI-generated content, research reveals

August 25, 2026

Study Finds Rise in AI-Written Content Post-ChatGPT Launch

A recent study has revealed that more than one-third of webpages created after the introduction of ChatGPT exhibit characteristics of AI writing.

The Pew Research Center analyzed over 500,000 English-language webpages from the past five years and noted a significant increase in machine-generated text since ChatGPT entered the scene in 2022.

Researchers employed an AI detection tool known as Open Pangram to examine a random sample of 10,000 webpages gathered in July 2026. The analysis indicated that around 10% of these pages showed signs of AI authorship, according to a report released last week.

Interestingly, when focusing solely on webpages developed after the debut of ChatGPT, the percentage shot up. In fact, 35% of these post-ChatGPT pages presented indications of AI writing, aligning with other investigations that suggest artificial intelligence is increasingly influencing the contemporary web.

This trend started gaining momentum following the launch of ChatGPT and progressed further with the arrival of other popular chatbots like Claude and Gemini.

The study also pointed out that AI-generated content remains relatively rare on domains ending in “.edu” or “.gov” but is notably more prevalent on “.com” websites.

Although AI detection models are not infallible, researchers noted that they can reveal unique patterns typical of machine-generated writing, which can include specific punctuation, vocabulary, and phrasing.

These findings arrive against a backdrop of other studies indicating that AI chatbots are becoming an increasingly integral part of daily life in the United States.

A Pew Research Center study released in June highlighted that over half of adults in the U.S. now use chatbots, with about 38% of working adults incorporating them into their professional tasks. Furthermore, statistics suggest that younger adults, particularly those under 30, express greater concern about AI’s potential negative impacts on society compared to older generations.