Google Discover AI Summaries: Impact on Publishers

Google's AI Summaries in Discover: A Potential Threat to Publishers

Concerns are rising among publishers regarding diminishing traffic originating from Google. In response, Google has initiated the deployment of AI-generated summaries within Discover, its primary news feed integrated into the Google search application for both iOS and Android devices.

How the New Feature Works

Instead of displaying individual headlines from news organizations, users are now presented with an AI-created synopsis accompanied by the logos of multiple news sources. These sources are cited as the basis for the summary.

The application includes a disclaimer indicating that these summaries are produced using artificial intelligence, and acknowledges the potential for inaccuracies.

Availability and Testing

Currently, the feature isn't universally visible for all news articles within the Google app. Initial testing by TechCrunch demonstrated the functionality across both iOS and Android platforms within the United States.

A Google representative confirmed that this rollout represents a full launch within the U.S., rather than a limited test. The focus will be on popular lifestyle categories, including sports and entertainment. Google also stated that this feature aims to streamline the user’s decision-making process when selecting which articles to view.

Additional Discover Presentation Changes

Beyond the AI summaries, Google is also experimenting with alternative methods for presenting news within Discover. Some articles now feature bullet-point summaries beneath the headline, while others are grouped alongside related news stories.

For example, coverage of former President Trump’s dealings related to Ukraine was accompanied by links to other reports on his recent activities. Similarly, an article from The Washington Post concerning ICE was followed by bullet points outlining the story’s key points.

Publisher Experimentation with AI

Numerous publishers are independently exploring the use of AI on their own websites, including The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo, Bloomberg, and USA Today. Several startups, such as Particle, are also leveraging AI to summarize news and offer users diverse perspectives and follow-up question capabilities.

Industry Concerns Regarding Traffic Impact

Despite these efforts, the publishing industry expresses significant apprehension about the impact of AI on website traffic and referral patterns. Features like Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode allow users to obtain answers to search queries without directly visiting a website, as the information is summarized or presented in a chatbot format.

This trend extends beyond Google, with similar functionalities appearing in other AI applications like ChatGPT and Perplexity.

Google's Attempts to Support Publishers

Google recently introduced Offerwall, a feature designed to provide publishers with alternative revenue streams beyond traditional traffic-dependent methods like advertising. Offerwall, accessible through Google Ad Manager, enables publishers to experiment with micropayments, surveys, newsletter sign-ups, and other engagement strategies.

Declining Traffic Trends

However, for many publishers, these solutions may be arriving too late, as traffic is already experiencing a substantial decline.

Data from Similarweb, as reported by The Economist, indicates a 15% year-over-year decrease in worldwide search traffic as of June.

Earlier data from the same firm revealed that the proportion of web news searches resulting in no click-throughs to news websites increased from 56% in May 2024, following the launch of AI Overviews, to nearly 69% by May 2025. Organic traffic also decreased, falling from over 2.3 billion visits in mid-2024 to under 1.7 billion.

The Future of Google Discover

While Google Discover previously remained a source of clicks even as Google Search traffic declined, this may change with the wider implementation of AI summaries within the Google app.

This article was updated after publication to include a statement from Google confirming the U.S. launch.