Google reportedly tests payments for publishers in AI search
A pilot involving about 100 publishers reportedly ties payments to their content’s contribution to Google’s AI features, as scrutiny of those products’ effects on web traffic continues.
Google is testing a programme that pays publishers for content used in its AI search features and Gemini, according to The Information. The report says about 100 publishers are participating.
Payments are reportedly based on how much each publisher’s material contributes to AI Overviews, AI Mode in Search and Gemini. The reports do not explain how that contribution is measured, and Google’s confirmation is not included in the source material.
The Information reports that one publisher involved from the pilot’s start earned more than US$1 million over a year. Another, which joined several months ago, reportedly received about US$50,000 to US$60,000. These are individual cases and do not establish typical earnings.
Digiday previously reported that the pilot began less than a year ago. The reports do not indicate whether Google intends to make the programme permanent or broadly available.
The test comes as Google faces criticism and legal and regulatory scrutiny over the effects of its AI search features on publishers and web traffic. The source reports that the UK ruled in June that publishers must be allowed to opt out of appearing in AI search features, while the European Union opened an investigation and recently ordered Google to make search changes.
