Google AI Mode, introduced as the most powerful AI search experience, is raising concerns about weakening content publishers, and the risk of traditional websites losing their roles. AI Mode is facing criticism from both experts and the online community.
According to Cyber News, AI Mode is an improved search feature that allows users to interact with AI assistants in the form of conversations and ask related questions in more depth.
This feature expands the capabilities of AI Overviews - a tool that only provides concise summarization at the top of Google's search results page - by integrating enhanced logical interaction. However, the new search interface with AI is a new center currently only available to English-speaking users in the US.
Many publishers and major media organizations believe that Google's use of content from websites without paying fees and not allowing them to refuse to participate is an act of "blatant theft".
The News/Media Alliance - representing nearly 2,000 media outlets in the US and Canada - strongly opposed, warning that AI Mode is reducing access traffic and revenue from original content.
The European Commission is also monitoring Google's operations, especially the implementation of AI Overviews, due to concerns that this feature reduces traffic to external websites. According to Bloomberg, Google has decided not to allow publishers to choose to withdraw from AI Overviews.
Amid negative reactions, Google continues to integrate ads into AI Overviews and AI Mode, targeting commercial queries. The company said that the ads will appear in the right position, even integrated into AI response content.
In a blog post after the Google Marketing Live event, the company said that AI Overviews has helped increase Google usage by more than 10% in major markets such as the US and India. According to Google's supporting documents, the ad will automatically appear when the survey is commercial and the advertiser cannot choose not to participate.
