Google is undergoing a significant transformation of its search engine with the introduction of “AI Mode,” a feature that delivers conversational, AI-generated responses to user queries. This shift aims to provide more intuitive and comprehensive answers, leveraging Google’s Gemini 2.5 model to enhance user experience .
However, this innovation has sparked controversy among news publishers. The News/Media Alliance, representing major U.S. news organizations, has criticized AI Mode for allegedly diverting web traffic away from original content sources. They argue that by presenting AI-generated summaries, Google diminishes the visibility and revenue potential for publishers .
In response to these concerns, Google has defended its approach, stating that AI Mode is designed to complement traditional search results and that links to source material are still accessible. The company emphasizes that this feature is part of its broader effort to evolve search capabilities in the face of growing competition from AI-driven platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT .
As Google continues to refine AI Mode, the balance between technological advancement and the interests of content creators remains a focal point of discussion.