Google’s latest decisions, given its de facto monopoly position in many digital domains, are starting to have consequences. The situation, in general, in the world of journalism at major outlets, with a few exceptions, is one of depression and weariness after the arrival of AI Overviews, the growing prominence of AI Mode, changes in Google Discover and the latest Google update, which has once again reduced traffic for many outlets in Google Search.
(more…)AI Overviews
Google Search tests a new feature to choose sources for the Top Stories section
Google tests many things and not all of them end up working or being rolled out worldwide. In this case, it has been reported that they are testing in the United States and India a new feature that allows for a bit of personalization in the Google Search Top Stories module, one that traditionally stood out for sending a lot of traffic to media outlets, but which nowadays is also affected by AI Overviews.
(more…)First major lawsuit in Europe against Google over its use of AI in its search engine
It finally seems something is shifting over AI Overviews and Google’s latest exercise of market power. Reuters has exclusively revealed that a group of independent publishers has filed an antitrust complaint, largely because there is no effective way to opt-out of Google’s AI without completely destroying traffic from Google Search.
(more…)How to access AI overviews data
Google does not provide figures for its AI Overviews because it claims the project is still liable to change. The truth, however, is that the data would not work in its favour, even though the company could publish them in the not-too-distant future. All that changes now thanks to Sistrix: content creators no longer have to wait for Google’s goodwill, because these metrics are already within reach.
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