Google pays media outlets for AI-generated content, but small websites risk losing traffic

Google has launched a pilot program in which about 100 publishers receive payment for the use of their content to generate AI-powered answers.

At the same time, payments vary widely: some small media outlets have received less than $1,000 over several months, while larger participants can earn significantly more.

 For publishers, the problem isn’t just the amount of the payments. If a user receives a ready-made answer directly on Google, they may not visit the website where the information came from. This creates the risk of losing search traffic.

At the same time, media outlets do not always understand exactly how Google calculates compensation or what contribution their content makes to AI responses.

In the long run, this could become a problem for the entire media industry: artificial intelligence requires new information, but creating it requires resources that publications largely obtain through their audience and advertising revenue.

Source: Ars Technica.

As of October 1, Google has suspended its bug bounty program for identifying vulnerabilities in the company’s open-source software. The company cited a significant increase in the number of automated submissions, most of which are invalid.

The Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) stated that it suspects Google of abusing its dominant position during negotiations over payments to local publishers for the use of their content. This involves the display of articles and excerpts in Google Search, Google News, and Discover.