What if most of what we see online isn’t made by people anymore? In this episode, we unpack the “Dead Internet” theory - the idea that bots, algorithms, and automated content have quietly taken over the web. We talk about where the theory came from, why it feels oddly believable, and what it says about how we experience the internet today.

In this pilot episode of Muller’s Ratchet, we kick things off with a deceptively simple question: does AI know when it doesn’t know?

We talk about confidence, uncertainty, and why machines often sound sure of themselves even when they’re wrong. What does it mean for an AI to “admit” uncertainty? How is that different from human doubt? And why does this matter when we’re increasingly relying on these systems for answers, advice, and decisions?

This episode sets the tone for the show: curious, conversational, and a little skeptical — exploring how technology thinks, how we think about technology, and where those two things quietly drift apart.