Google is paying almost no publishers almost nothing for content used in AI answers
decoder ·
Google is currently compensating approximately 100 digital publishers for content utilized in its AI Overviews, AI Mode, and Gemini chatbot services. The pilot program, which launched less than a year ago, reveals significant disparities in earnings, with some small sites receiving under $1,000 while others earn over $1 million annually. Many participants report uncertainty regarding how these payments are calculated or why they fluctuate month to month. Despite the financial incentives, traffic from the open web has declined, prompting larger publishers to boycott the program to demand higher rates. Legal challenges are mounting, including an antitrust investigation by the European Commission and lawsuits alleging lost revenue. A recent German court ruling suggests AI Overviews constitute Google's own content, potentially creating a legal basis for mandatory licensing fees. This selective licensing strategy creates a prisoner's dilemma that prevents publishers from negotiating collectively against Google.
decoder