# Google’s AI summaries cut publishers’ search traffic and referrals

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/googles-ai-search-changes-upended-online-publishing/
- Published: 2026-10-25T12:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-25T12:23:00+00:00
- Original publisher: The Verge
- Original article: https://www.theverge.com/column/1017983/google-ai-search-online-publishing
- Topics: AI, Art, Business, Celebrity, Culture, Entertainment, Markets, Technology

## Key points

- Google’s AI summaries may answer queries without sending readers to publishers.
- Publishers report falling search traffic and fewer clicks.
- Google says overall click volume remains relatively stable.

## Summary

Google’s AI search features have weakened the long-standing link between the search engine and online publishers: Google still uses their work to answer queries, but users may get what they need without visiting the source. Publishers say falling search traffic threatens a business model built partly on attracting readers through Google.

AI Overviews, introduced in 2024, place generated summaries above links, while AI Mode, launched in May 2025, offers a chatbot-style search experience. The New York Times’ share of traffic from search fell from 44 per cent to 35.5 per cent over three years, and 19 members of the Digital Content Next trade association reported Google traffic losses of 1 to 25 per cent between May and June 2025. DMG Media reported click-through rates fell by up to 89 per cent between June and July, while Google has said overall click volume remains relatively stable.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.