12:59Machine-translated from Azerbaijani by AIRead in Azerbaijani
Google Tests Paying Publishers for Content Used in AI Responses
Google is testing payments to publishers whose material is used in its AI-powered search features. About 100 digital publishers, including small and medium-sized blogs, have joined the program, which has been running for less than 1 year. The trial began amid complaints about declining visitor numbers on websites and the use of their material in AI responses.
Payments are calculated based on how much the content contributes to AI Overviews summaries, AI Mode responses in Search, and the Gemini chatbot. One of the first publishers to join the program has earned more than $1 million a year (approximately more than 1.7 million AZN). Another participant that joined several months ago has earned $50,000-$60,000 (approximately 85,000-102,000 AZN) so far. Payment amounts vary widely. Some small websites have earned less than $1,000 (less than 1,700 AZN) over several months. The amount paid to some publishers did not even reach 0.1% of their advertising revenue. Publishers can see how extensively their material is used in AI summaries, but Google has not disclosed how payments are calculated. According to participants' observations, topics that receive little media coverage but attract strong reader interest may generate more revenue. Anime and gaming are examples. It is not yet clear whether the trial will be expanded in the future. Nevertheless, Google considers it important for publishers to continue their work so that AI can produce up-to-date responses. The company does not accept that AI is responsible for the decline in website visitor numbers. Google's AI-driven search changes have prompted criticism and lawsuits from publishers and have also attracted regulatory scrutiny. In June, the United Kingdom required the company to give publishers the option not to appear in AI search. The European Union has launched an investigation into the impact on internet traffic and called for changes to the search engine.
Payments are calculated based on how much the content contributes to AI Overviews summaries, AI Mode responses in Search, and the Gemini chatbot. One of the first publishers to join the program has earned more than $1 million a year (approximately more than 1.7 million AZN). Another participant that joined several months ago has earned $50,000-$60,000 (approximately 85,000-102,000 AZN) so far. Payment amounts vary widely. Some small websites have earned less than $1,000 (less than 1,700 AZN) over several months. The amount paid to some publishers did not even reach 0.1% of their advertising revenue. Publishers can see how extensively their material is used in AI summaries, but Google has not disclosed how payments are calculated. According to participants' observations, topics that receive little media coverage but attract strong reader interest may generate more revenue. Anime and gaming are examples. It is not yet clear whether the trial will be expanded in the future. Nevertheless, Google considers it important for publishers to continue their work so that AI can produce up-to-date responses. The company does not accept that AI is responsible for the decline in website visitor numbers. Google's AI-driven search changes have prompted criticism and lawsuits from publishers and have also attracted regulatory scrutiny. In June, the United Kingdom required the company to give publishers the option not to appear in AI search. The European Union has launched an investigation into the impact on internet traffic and called for changes to the search engine.