Google pilots payments to publishers for AI search contributions

Google has launched a pilot program that pays publishers for content used in its AI-powered search features, according to a report from The Information cited by The Verge. The program includes around 100 publishers and began less than a year ago.

Payments are reportedly tied to how much a publisher’s content contributes to AI Overviews and AI Mode in Search, as well as Google’s Gemini chatbot. One early participant earned over $1 million in a year, while a publisher that joined a few months ago has earned between $50,000 and $60,000, The Information reports.

The move comes as Google faces scrutiny from regulators and publishers over the impact of AI features on web traffic and monetization. In June, the UK ruled that Google must allow publishers to opt out of appearing in AI search features, and the European Union opened an investigation into the technology’s impact on web traffic.