Source: Indieblog
Small publishers and indie creators face a genuine dilemma: robots.txt blocking feels like reclaiming agency, but it amounts to self-imposed invisibility in an ecosystem where AI-powered discovery and recommendation increasingly drive audience. The leverage isn't in opting out—it's in understanding how to participate strategically, whether that means licensing content, building direct relationships, or using AI tools as distribution channels rather than treating them purely as threats. Creators who go dark lose the ability to negotiate terms or shape how their work gets used. Those who engage retain some say in the outcome.