№ 2 The State of AI Writing on Hacker News · May 2026

May's front page averaged 11% AI-generated.

Pangram flagged 11% of the month's 2,467 analyzed stories as AI-generated. That's 5pp higher than the month before.

Issue №2 Analyzed 2,467 stories Across 31 days From 1,379 distinct domains By HN AI Detector

1 in 9

front-page stories was AI-generated

Pangram flagged 281 of 2467 analyzed stories as AI this month.

+5pp

change versus the previous month

The front page ran more AI than April 2026.

100%

of thestateofbrand.com was AI-generated

Of domains with at least three stories this month, thestateofbrand.com had the highest AI share.

— The trend

AI % on the HN front page, every day of May

31 days · daily rolling avg

Prev. avg: 6% · this month: 11%

10%

15%

20%

prev avg · 6%

May 01May 08May 15May 22May 31

Below 17% 17–20% 20% and above Highest day: 22% on May 21

— Trending up

vs. previous month

— Steady

vs. previous month