The concept's genesis on the internet began in the 1990s; Slashdot launched similar interviews in 1999, but only 10 questions per person were allowed.

Participants included free software advocate Bruce Perens and Linux developer Alan Cox.

Reddit built on this idea with video interviews with site staff Alexis Ohanian and Erik Martin.

[8][9] By contrast, rapper Snoop Dogg's 2012 AMA attracted 1.6 million page views[10] after he provided several candid responses to the community's questions.

[12][13] She primarily transcribed spoken celebrity responses, but also helped organize timing, affirmed best practices, and assisted in preparation.

[14] On July 2, 2015, hundreds of subreddits, including several with over a million subscribers, were set to private by their respective volunteer moderators after Taylor was dismissed.