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Google is reportedly paying about 100 publishers for content used in answers from AI Overviews, AI Mode and Gemini, according to The Information. The pilot’s payments vary widely, and some smaller sites reportedly receive less than 0.1% of their advertising revenue. The program’s terms and its effect on publishers’ losses in search traffic remain unclear.
Google has reportedly been paying about 100 publishers for how much their material helps answer queries through AI Overviews, AI Mode and the Gemini chatbot, according to a September 29 report by The Information. The pilot could mark a change in Google’s approach to compensating publishers whose material appears in search results, as publishers have complained that AI summaries are reducing visits to their websites.
The Information’s report, as summarized by PYMNTS, says Google has been testing the program for less than a year. People familiar with the payouts told The Information that amounts vary considerably. Smaller sites have reportedly received about $1,000 over several months, while one early participant has earned more than $1 million in a year. The report does not give the program’s payment formula or identify the participating publishers.
For many small and midsize sites, the payments are reportedly modest relative to their business: sources told The Information that some participating publishers receive less than 0.1% of their advertising revenue. The report says some larger publishers have declined to take part, hoping to press Google and other technology companies for higher compensation for material used by AI systems.
Publishers’ reasons for participating also differ. Some reportedly see the pilot as a way to learn which content Google’s AI uses and adapt their coverage. An executive at a participating publisher told The Information that Google appeared to be testing an offer in which it uses publishers’ material and determines what that material is worth. That is the executive’s characterization; the report does not disclose Google’s full terms or how the company values individual contributions.
Payments Meet Publishers’ Traffic Losses
The pilot addresses a dispute over the value publishers provide when their reporting or other material informs an AI-generated answer. AI Overviews can present summaries within Google Search, potentially giving users information without visiting the source websites. Publishers have said that these answers have contributed to falling referral traffic, and the PYMNTS report notes that complaints and lawsuits have followed. The reported payments offer one possible form of compensation, but the figures cited in the report suggest that participation may not offset lost advertising income for many sites.
The change matters beyond publishers because online discovery is shifting. A PYMNTS Intelligence report, “The AI Power User Gets Pickier,” found that 23% of U.S. consumers had used AI for product discovery in the prior year; among AI adopters who research purchases, the figure was 93%. Those figures describe the study’s respondents and time frame, not all consumers. They point to a potential business stake for publishers and merchants: being surfaced in an AI answer may influence which products or sources people consider, though the study does not establish that Google’s pilot changes consumer behavior.
From Search Referrals to AI Answers
Google’s earlier position, as described in The Information report, was that it should not pay publishers because its search results sent users to their websites. The arrival of AI-powered summaries has changed that debate: publishers argue that answers presented directly in search can reduce the traffic they receive. Some have pursued legal action, although the source material does not specify the cases or their status.
The reported pilot covers more than one Google product: AI Overviews in Search, AI Mode and Gemini. The source does not say whether the same publishers or payment terms apply across all three. Its reported range—from roughly $1,000 over several months for smaller sites to more than $1 million in a year for one early participant—also reflects individual cases, not a published standard rate.
“Google seems to be testing a new offer in which it uses publishers’ content and determines for itself what that content is worth.”
— An executive at a participating publisher, speaking to The Information
Pilot Terms and Publisher Impact
Google’s official explanation of the pilot, its eligibility rules, payment calculations and total spending are not included in the source material. The report also does not identify the participants or explain how a publisher can verify the value assigned to its content.
It is unclear how many publishers receive payments large enough to offset any reduction in search referrals, or whether the pilot will expand or become a lasting program. The reported payment examples come from sources familiar with the payouts and should not be treated as typical rates. The effect of AI Overviews on traffic may also vary by publisher and subject area; the cited material provides no aggregate traffic data.
Whether Google Expands the Pilot
The next indications to watch are whether Google publicly describes the program, publishes its payment criteria or broadens participation. Publishers may also continue negotiating over compensation and pursuing complaints or legal claims related to AI use and search traffic. The source material gives no announced timetable for a decision on the pilot, so it is not yet clear when, or whether, its terms will change.
Key Questions
Which Google products are included in the reported program?
The Information reports that the pilot involves AI Overviews, AI Mode and the Gemini chatbot. It does not specify whether every participating publisher’s content is used across all three.
How much are publishers being paid?
The reported amounts vary: sources described about $1,000 over several months for smaller sites and more than $1 million in a year for one early participant. These examples do not establish a standard rate.
Are the payments enough to replace lost advertising revenue?
The report says sources familiar with the payouts described payments to many small and midsize sites as less than 0.1% of their ad revenue. It does not provide overall figures showing whether the program offsets traffic-related losses.
Why are some publishers not participating?
According to The Information’s sources, some larger publishers are holding out in hopes of pressing Google and other companies to pay more for content used by AI. Other publishers reportedly participate to learn what content Google’s AI values.
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