What happens to the internet if no one clicks search links? - podcast episode cover

What happens to the internet if no one clicks search links?

Aug 04, 20257 min
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Episode description

Google's AI Overviews feature can deliver an answer to your question before you click a single link. But it spells bad news for the publishers that write the articles that power these AI summaries: their business models depend on site visits to sell ads. And some smaller publishers have already gone out of business as the use of AI summaries grows.

"The extinction-level event is already here," said Helen Havlak, publisher of tech news site The Verge.

NPR's John Ruwitch reports on how companies are adapting to the artificial intelligence shake-up in Google search. And Google is a financial supporter of NPR, but we cover them like any other company.

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