In 2024, more than half of all web traffic came from bots — a shift most people didn’t notice until this year.

The word ‘bot’ is short for ‘robot,’  which originates from the Czech term “robota,” meaning “forced labour” or “drudgery.” It was popularized by Czech writer Karel Čapek in his play ‘Rossum’s Universal Robots,’ which premiered in 1921.

Most bots are helpful, unless they unintentionally overwhelm a small website with sudden bursts of requests. When you watch videos online (on platforms like YouTube or Netflix), recommendation bots suggest content based on your preferences. When you shop online, bots help with customer support, product suggestions, and even process your orders. These systems make experiences smoother, faster, and more personalized. Every time you interact with a website, app, or service, there’s a good chance a ‘helpful bot’ is working behind the scenes.