AI Is About to Kill the Website—And Maybe Your Job Too -

The Watertown Post

By Hans Wilder, Watertown Post

Artificial intelligence isn’t coming. It’s already here—and it’s about to change everything in Watertown, New York, faster than anyone realizes.

Not long ago, running a successful business or news site meant hiring writers, designers, and web experts. Now, a single person—me, for example—can run multiple websites, write articles, design graphics, and even produce music videos with AI doing 90% of the work.

Sounds great, right? Not so fast.

AI is improving at a pace that no human business owner can keep up with. And here’s the terrifying part: AI won’t just change how we work—it might eliminate the need for websites, jobs, and even entire industries.

Will Watertown Businesses Survive This Shift?

Think about all the local businesses in Watertown that rely on websites—restaurants, plumbers, electricians, small shops, even this very newspaper.

Right now, websites are still essential for advertising and customer service. But within a few years, AI could bypass them completely. Imagine this: you ask your phone, “Where’s the best pizza in Watertown?” Instead of showing you a list of local websites, an AI instantly orders from the highest-rated place, confirms delivery, and charges your card—all without you ever seeing a webpage.

That’s convenient for you… but devastating for local businesses that depend on online traffic to survive.

Will We All Go Back to Working with Our Hands?

Some people believe that when AI takes over white-collar jobs, folks will return to trades—plumbing, electrical work, construction—jobs that can’t be automated easily.

But even that hope may be short-lived. Robots are already laying bricks, pouring concrete, and even performing surgeries. Watertown’s construction workers, mechanics, and even healthcare professionals could one day find themselves competing with machines.

Not Science Fiction—This Is Happening Right Now

I run several websites, and AI has made that possible. But here’s the truth: I’m part of the problem.

Every time I use AI to generate articles or manage content, I’m feeding the very system that will eventually make me—and everyone else who runs a business online—obsolete.

At some point, AI won’t need websites. It will just feed everyone the information they need, exactly when they need it. No websites. No ads. No middlemen.

That’s not hyperbole. That’s the future we’re staring at.

Watertown’s Crossroads

So where does that leave us? Small towns like Watertown could either adapt and use AI to their advantage—or get crushed by it. Local businesses that learn how to integrate AI may thrive, but those that ignore it could disappear.

This isn’t just a global issue. It’s a local one. AI could be the best thing to ever happen to Watertown—or the final nail in the coffin for small-town business as we know it.

All I know is this: Oh boy, we’re in a lot of trouble—and yes, I’m part of the problem.