The News/Media Alliance, representing major US news publishers, has condemned Google’s new AI Mode in search, claiming it deprives publishers of crucial traffic and revenue. Google’s AI Mode, launched at Google I/O, offers AI-generated responses alongside traditional links, effectively using publisher content without compensation. According to Danielle Coffey, CEO of News/Media Alliance, this practice amounts to theft and calls for DOJ intervention to address Google’s internet dominance. Documents from Google’s antitrust trial reveal the company decided not to seek publisher permission for AI content inclusion, requiring publishers to opt out entirely if they object. Google Search head Liz Reid defended this approach, citing the complexity of allowing selective participation in AI features.
Back
