Google’s New AI Policy in Search Sparks Concerns About Low Web Traffic
Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) has made waves with its recent announcement to overhaul its search engine, prioritizing artificial intelligence (AI)-generated responses over traditional website links. The tech giant revealed its plans at its annual developers’ conference, stating that a test version will be rolled out in May before a full-scale launch in the near future.
According to the disclosure, users will now be presented with AI-generated summaries as the primary search results, with regular website links taking a backseat. Google clarified that the AI summaries will be reserved for complex topics or brainstorming questions, while more straightforward queries like weather forecasts or store recommendations will still display normal website links first.
The company has been experimenting with AI results for some time now, initially testing the feature with select clients. Following positive feedback, Google is now looking to evaluate the offering in the U.S. before a global rollout to its massive user base of over 1 billion people.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized the company’s cautious approach to integrating AI into Search, stating, “This bold and responsible approach is fundamental to delivering on our mission and making AI more helpful for everyone.”
However, the integration plans are not without challenges. Concerns have been raised about the potential impact on Google’s advertising business, which generated over $170 billion in revenue last year. Additionally, website publishers are worried about a decrease in clicks to their sites if users rely more on AI-generated summaries.
Industry experts predict a potential clash between Google and publishers, with some anticipating a surge in copyright and unjust enrichment lawsuits. Marc McCollum, chief innovation officer at Raptive, highlighted the shift of creative content from small businesses to Big Tech through AI training, calling it a “transfer of wealth.”
Despite these concerns, Google remains optimistic about the benefits of AI-generated search results. Liz Reid, head of Search at Google, mentioned that users tend to explore multiple website links after starting with an AI overview. While specific data on website-clicking rates during the AI tests was not disclosed, Reid hinted at ongoing innovation in AI technology to enhance user experience.
As AI continues to evolve, experts suggest integrating enterprise blockchain systems to ensure data quality and ownership, safeguarding data while maintaining its integrity. This emerging technology could be crucial in addressing the challenges faced by AI in the future.
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Source: https://coingeek.com/google-new-ai-policy-in-search-triggers-concerns-about-low-web-traffic/
