Google pilots payments to publishers for AI search content contributions

Google has launched a pilot program paying select publishers whose content contributes to its AI-powered search features, according to reports from The Information and Digiday. The program involves roughly 100 publishers and began less than a year ago. Participating publishers are compensated based on how much their content feeds into AI Overviews, AI Mode in Search, and the Gemini chatbot. The initiative comes amid growing scrutiny over AI search features reducing traffic to publisher websites. At least one early participant reportedly earned more than $1 million through the arrangement.