The “dead internet theory” in action: In World of Warcraft, a server without humans has appeared - instead, 1,800 DeepSeek-based bots are playing there. The bots behave like regular players: they chat, level up characters, run dungeons, and even fight each other.

A World of Warcraft server has become populated entirely by approximately 1,800 AI bots based on DeepSeek, which engage in typical player activities including chatting, leveling characters, running dungeons, and player-versus-player combat. This development reflects the "dead internet theory," which suggests the internet is increasingly dominated by automated content rather than human users. The phenomenon demonstrates the capability of modern AI systems to participate in complex multiplayer environments autonomously.

Source: r/ChatGPT | 2026-06-21