Google Is Paying About 100 Digital Publishers for AI Overviews

Google has been paying roughly 100 digital publishers based on how much their content contributes to AI-powered answers in search and other products, according to people familiar with the tests. The pilot marks a shift from Google's historical refusal to pay publishers, since AI Overviews have sharply cut the traffic search sends to their sites.

• Google pays about 100 digital publishers for content in AI answers
• The pilot reverses Google's long-standing refusal to pay publishers
• AI Overviews have sharply reduced traffic referred to publisher sites
• Some publishers have already sued Google over the practice