The new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered search summaries of Google could affect online publishers. The feature is designed to provide quick answers to user queries. It might drive users away from external websites. This has raised concerns among content creators as they mainly rely on website traffic for advertising revenue.
The AI search summaries may reach to more than a billion people by the end of the year. The summaries generate concise information on various topics. Users don’t need to click through other websites for the answers. Industry experts believe it is a growing threat. The threat is not only from Google. The same is from other AI startups including OpenAI.
Konvart founder Onajite Omare said website owners and SEO specialists for long have written articles to game search algorithms. Many search results include unnecessary information. AI can bypass the unnecessary information and provide direct answers. The efficiency could diminish traditional role of SEO-optimized content.
The AI search of Google aims to handle complex queries and planning tasks. However, it is learned to be still prioritizing traditional website links and ads for simple searches. Google is also working on multimodality to allowing users to ask questions through video. This will further enhance search capabilities.
However, the shift could have significant repercussions. Gartner predicts that traditional search engine use will decrease by 25% by 2026. It is further revealed that AI chatbots is to capture a larger share of the market. The shift means companies will need to rethink their marketing strategies. Generative AI solutions will possibly replace traditional search engines soon.
Raptive Chief Innovation Officer Marc McCollum expressed concerns about the impact on content creators. He estimates that a revenue loss of $2 billion could be witnessed by creators and within a year.
