Google's AI Search Mode: Publishers Cry Foul

Google's new AI Search mode, now live for all US users, is causing an existential crisis for publishers. The News/Media Alliance calls Google's AI mode "theft," arguing it takes content without compensation, harming publishers' traffic and revenue. Leaked documents reveal Google considered letting publishers opt out, but ultimately rejected this, leaving publishers with no recourse against their content being used for AI training and search results. While Google claims publishers always controlled content availability, this action is stifling high-quality content creation and potentially degrading the internet's overall quality.