Following Google’s announcement at it’s I/O event that its new “AI Mode” will soon become the default for all U.S. search users, the News/Media Alliance issued a strong condemnation, warning of the serious threat this poses to online publishers.

Figure 1.Google's AI Model.

The update introduces an AI-powered chatbot experience directly into the core of Google Search, delivering summarized responses compiled from across the internet. While framed as a user-friendly upgrade, the feature has sparked alarm among content creators who see it as a direct threat to their visibility and sustainability.Figure 1 shows Google's AI Model.

Representing a wide range of media organizations, the Alliance argued that this shift further disconnects users from original sources, resulting in fewer clicks through to publisher websites. As user engagement and web traffic decline, so too do the revenue and exposure that news outlets rely on—all while Google keeps users and ad dollars within its own platform.

According to the Alliance, Google’s latest move represents a dangerous turning point. Clickable links—the final thread tying users to original journalism—are in danger of becoming irrelevant. They argue this development strikes at the core of digital journalism, where search visibility is critical to both audience reach and financial viability.

Earlier this month, the group voiced support for the ongoing antitrust case targeting Google’s market practices. In a legal filing, they called for stronger policy measures to give publishers more authority over how their content is used in AI applications [1]. Specifically, they advocated for mechanisms that would allow media outlets to opt out of having their content scraped or summarized without permission.

At the same time, internal reports from Bloomberg revealed that Google does not plan to allow publishers to opt out of AI training and summarization while remaining listed in search results. For many in the industry, this reinforces a growing concern: Google is extracting value from original journalism while sidelining the very creators behind it.

For the News/Media Alliance, the stakes have never been higher. As AI continues to reshape how people search for and consume information, the group is calling on regulators to act swiftly—before Google’s power becomes even more deeply entrenched. This, they argue, is not just a matter of influence, but of survival for independent journalism.

Reference

1. https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2025/05/news-media-alliance-denounces-googles.html

Cite this article:

Keerthana S (2025), News Media Alliance Criticizes Google's AI Model Launch, Claiming It Harms Publishers, AnaTechMaz, pp.98.