Latest news with #crawlers
The National
07-07-2025
- Business
- The National
AI audits and 'pay per crawl': How Cloudflare is trying to fix a 'broken' web model
An announcement from network giant Cloudflare is deepening a divide between the worlds of tech and content publishing, which are at odds over the data used to train AI platforms. Cloudflare said publishers using the cloud company's tools for hosting websites will now block AI crawlers by default from accessing and poaching content without permission. 'Upon sign-up with Cloudflare, every new domain will now be asked if they want to allow AI crawlers, giving customers the choice upfront to explicitly allow or deny AI crawlers access,' the company said. 'This significant shift means that every new domain starts with the default of control, and eliminates the need for webpage owners to manually configure their settings to opt out.' Cloudflare first addressed concerns about AI data-scraping last year when it gave websites the option to block AI companies from poaching content. 'Now by default you have control over who crawls your site and what that information is used for,' said Stephanie Cohen, a chief strategy officer for Cloudflare. 'The benefit of that is that it creates the conditions for a new business model of the internet to develop,' she told The National after Cloudflare introduced the new settings and options. Some of the strongest proponents of AI tools, and many of the tools' creators, have justified data scraping, saying it is akin to the early days of search engines when controversy briefly surfaced over whether or not search companies should be able to index sites. Others say that comparison isn't appropriate, because search engines didn't poach the contents of entire websites. Additionally, during the early days of web browsers, search engines and the crawlers they implemented provided a framework that built much of the internet as we know it. It was a win-win situation for the likes of Google and media companies which provided information and sought to attract audiences by delivering web traffic through internet searches. The debut of OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022 and other AI platforms turned that economic model on its head. Instead of directing traffic to websites, AI summaries have quickly become a destination unto themselves, siphoning traffic from the same websites from which they scrape data. Ms Cohen said publishers and content creators using Cloudflare's services soon noticed a major dip in web traffic. 'Not only was it getting more difficult to get web traffic – to the tune of it being 10 times harder – but it was also getting more difficult at a faster and faster rate,' she said. The web's economics based on search that built up over the last decade, she said, started to erode over a period of six months. In 2024, Ms Cohen said Cloudflare allowed users to see which AI companies were scraping their sites and turn off that ability. This year they are taking things further by introducing 'pay per crawl'. The tool gives publishers and website operators the option of allowing AI scraping for free, charging for it 'at the configured domain-wide price,' or blocking scraping entirely. As AI developments quickens, so too does the bad blood between media organisations and the tech firms driving the AI boom. Several lawsuits have been filed. The New York Times has sued OpenAI and Microsoft for allegedly using its articles to power increasingly popular chatbots.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cloudflare limits "AI crawlers" from gathering online data
In a few short years, artificial intelligence has exploded into the mainstream, but it hasn't done so alone. AI companies use bots known as "AI crawlers" to comb through websites looking for data to train their AI models, usually without permission. Stephanie Cohen, chief strategy officer at Cloudflare, joins "The Daily Report" to discuss
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Robotics Crawler Camera System Market Size to Surpass USD 918.13 Million by 2031
The Insight Partners The report from The Insight Partners, therefore, provides several stakeholders—including component providers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), third-party software providers, equipment distributors or equipment renters, and end users —with valuable insights into how to successfully navigate this evolving market landscape and unlock new opportunities. US & Canada, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a new comprehensive report from The Insight Partners, the global robotics crawler camera system market is observing significant growth owing to the growing adoption of robotics crawler camera systems in pipeline inspection, demand for high-performance systems, and investment in water and wastewater management. The report runs an in-depth analysis of market trends, key players, and future opportunities. In general, the robotic crawler camera system market comprises a vast array of component, application, and end user which are expected to register strength during the coming years. To explore the valuable insights in the Robotics Crawler Camera System Market report, you can easily download a sample PDF of the report – Overview of Report Findings 1. Market Growth: The robotics crawler camera system market size was valued at US$ 364.88 million in 2024 and is expected to reach US$ 918.13 million by 2031; it is estimated to record a CAGR of 14.2% from 2025 to 2031. A robotics crawler camera system is a combination of mechanical, electronic, and software systems used for inspecting and surveying hard-to-reach areas such as pipelines, sewers, nuclear reactors, and other industrial structures while capturing visual data. This system is used to explore diverse terrains, industrial inspections, sewer line monitoring, pipeline evaluations, and search-and-rescue missions. The camera enables operators to remotely examine regions that would otherwise be difficult or dangerous to access, making the robotic crawler camera system an essential tool for visual data collecting and real-time observation in tough settings. This system features interchangeable wheels of various sizes for flexibility in inspecting pipes of different diameters. It also captures and stores inspection data for later review and reporting 2. Technological Innovations: The miniaturization of robotic crawler camera systems is fueling its adoption. These modern and compact technologies are designed to provide higher precision, flexibility, and greater energy efficiency, which are critical in applications such as industrial, commercial, residential, and municipal. The miniature robotic crawler camera system enables smoother operation, provides accurate insights, and reduces the maintenance requirements of industries. The demand for cutting-edge technology, such as compact, flexible, real-time data and improved operational efficiencies with a focus on lower operational expenses, has encouraged market players to develop miniature robotic crawler camera system systems. Miniature robotic crawlers are increasingly being used for pipeline inspections, building assessments, and hazardous area exploration due to their enhanced mobility, advanced camera capabilities, and ability to withstand harsh environments. Their small size allows industries for more accessible and efficient operations, reducing downtime and operational costs. Thus, the growing demand for real-time data collection and remote inspection surges the industrial adoption of miniature robotic crawler camera systems
