Google’s AI search changes upended online publishing

The article reports that Google's AI Overviews and AI Mode have reduced search traffic to online publishers, citing Similarweb data showing The New York Times' search traffic share falling from 44 percent to 35.5 percent over three years and DMG Media reporting click-through rates dropping by up to 89 percent between June and July 2025. Google disputes this, with Search head Liz Reid saying click volume remained "relatively stable," while publishers have filed lawsuits and leaned on social media, newsletters, and subscriptions; Google has since made sources more prominent and runs a News AI pilot with 400 publishers.