AI Summaries Shake Up Google Discover

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Google is shaking things up with its latest AI-powered feature in the Discover feed, and it’s got publishers biting their nails.

Instead of the usual headlines from your favourite publications, users will now see AI-generated summaries, complete with multiple news logos. Fancy, right? But here’s the kicker: these summaries mean users might skip the actual articles, potentially slashing website traffic.

Currently rolling out in the U.S. on iOS and Android, this feature focuses on lifestyle topics like sports and entertainment. Google assures us it’ll help users decide which pages to visit, but publishers are understandably concerned. After all, why click through when you’ve got the gist right there?

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This isn’t just a Google gig. Publishers like The Wall Street Journal and startups like Particle are already dabbling in AI summaries. But the trend is clear: users are getting their news fix without ever leaving the app. Yikes!

Despite Google’s attempts to sweeten the deal with Offerwall, allowing publishers to earn through micropayments and surveys, the traffic decline is real. According to The Economist, worldwide search traffic took a 15% nosedive year-over-year by June. And with AI Overviews, the number of news searches ending in no clicks jumped from 56% to a whopping 69% in just a year.

So, as AI summaries potentially roll out more widely, publishers might need to rethink their strategies. Could this be the dawn of a new era in news consumption? Only time will tell. For now, let’s keep our eyes peeled and our strategies sharp!

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Want to hear more? Join Mal & Matt on the Property AI Report Podcast each week!

Access from your preferred podcast provider by clicking here

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