Google's early attempt to pay websites for AI answers is struggling

Google is testing a program that pays publishers when their content contributes to AI-powered search answers, but the payments are proving too small to matter for most participants. Publishers in the pilot program are earning roughly one-tenth of one percent of their advertising revenue from these AI contributions, with some sites receiving less than one thousand dollars over several months. The program matters because Google's shift toward AI search has reduced the traffic websites traditionally received from search results, creating tension between the company and publishers who feel their content is being used without fair compensation. Several large publishers have refused to join the pilot in hopes of forcing better terms, while regulators and courts are beginning to scrutinize whether Google is fairly compensating publishers for AI training and search integration.