In answer, how frequently does "append Reddit" appear as a top comment on a "Google search is ad-optimized garbage now" article?

Perhaps this will force people to search on subject-specific forums instead of subsections of the everything forum.

That doesn't seem different-in-kind. Spammed GPT content will eventually infect them too.

I believe that it's a case where the difference in scale becomes the difference in kind. Reddit is easy to target because there is one single Reddit: GPT spambots farm karma by reposting porn and cute animal photos and easily sail past even the most stringent karma requirements after letting the account age for a month or three. Niche forums would require the bot to develop a positive reputation to be accepted as the authoritative answer in each new forum that is targeted.

Would they? I don't spend a lot of time on niche forums these days, but the question boils down to "Would you not accrue positive karma over time from posting?"

I'm sure there are forums out there sufficiently expert that's not the case... but that doesn't feel like most forums (even niche).

Exhibit A: me, who doesn't post particularly interesting things on HN, but eventually accrues karma simply from time