Study: Google AI Overviews Cut News Site Audiences
Above: Google LLC's logo displayed on a smartphone on April 20, 2025. Image copyright: Cheng Xin/Getty Images
The Spin
Techno-optimist narrative
Google's AI Overviews represent a natural evolution of search technology that benefits users by providing quick, comprehensive answers without forcing them to navigate multiple websites. The feature increases overall search satisfaction and encourages more queries, creating expanded opportunities for publishers to reach audiences through diverse pathways.
Techno-skeptic narrative
Google's AI Overviews prioritize convenience over accuracy, reducing website clicks by half while boosting Google's profits. These summaries hallucinate absurd advice and fake quotes, yet users increasingly accept them without verification. With extremely high error rates in some systems, we're witnessing truth's commoditization where speed trumps accuracy and human expertise.
