Google AI search is a threat to news publishers - media outlets claim

News publishers are facing a sharp decline in web traffic as Google's newly expanded AI-generated answers begin replacing traditional blue-link search results.

The tech giant's rollout of its AI Overviews tool, which displays concise chatbot-style summaries directly in the search interface, has triggered a dramatic drop in referral traffic to news sites, in turn sparking widespread concern across the media industry.

A Wall Street Journal report claims some publishers have seen double-digit percentage declines in Google-driven page views since the feature’s rollout.

The update, powered by generative AI, surfaces machine-written summaries that often satisfy user queries without requiring them to click through to external websites.

This evolution in search behavior threatens the traditional digital advertising model on which many digital newsrooms depend.

By keeping users within the Google ecosystem, the AI summaries reduce visibility and engagement for original reporting, media experts claim, despite the fact that the AI systems draw on that very content for their 'knowledge'.

Critics say the move exacerbates a power imbalance between big tech platforms and media outlets already reeling from declining ad revenues.