The Atlantic has recently conducted a study that highlights the potential effects Google's adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology could have on the venerable publication's web traffic. A dedicated task force explored how an AI-enhanced search engine by Google may answer user queries directly, potentially reducing the need to click through to external content providers like The Atlantic.
Study Findings Highlight Concerns
According to the task force's findings, there's an estimated 75% likelihood that Google's AI-powered search could fulfill search queries without directing users to The Atlantic's website. Given that about 40% of The Atlantic's online visitors come from Google searches, this potential shift could significantly diminish their reach and, consequently, ad revenue.
Looking Ahead: The Atlantic's Response
As a response to the projected shift, The Atlantic is presumably assessing strategies to adapt to a future where search engines are more self-contained information providers. This challenge underscores a broader concern among publishers about how emerging technologies may disrupt established digital traffic and monetization models.
As publishers like The Atlantic confront the implications of AI in search engines, they're faced with the task of innovating to sustain and grow their digital audiences. This may involve creating more compelling content that encourages engagement beyond the quick answers AI can provide, or diversifying their traffic sources to reduce dependence on single platforms.
Copyright and Data Gathering in the AI Age
A group of writers, including major figures like Michael Chabon and David Henry Hwang, have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI. They claim that the company unlawfully accesses their copyrighted works to train its AI model, ChatGPT. Chabon and the group have also brought a similar lawsuit against Meta Inc. for the same reasons.
Earlier in the year, Sarah Silverman, Christopher Golden, and Richard Kadrey accused both OpenAI and Meta of copyright infringement. They claim technology companies obtained their books from illegal sources, such as websites that offer free downloads of pirated books.
In July, a group of leading news publishers also considered suing AI companies over copyright infringement. The publishers allege that the AI firms are infringing on their intellectual property rights and undermining their business model by scraping, summarizing, or rewriting their articles and distributing them on various platforms, such as websites, apps, or social media.
