Publishers Are Not Googley about AI
June 2, 2025
“Google’s AI Mode Is the Definition of Theft, Publishers Say, Opt-Out Was Considered” reports that Google is a criminal and stealing content from its rightful owners. This is not a Googley statement. Criticism of the Google is likely to be filtered from search results because it is false statement and likely to cause harm. If this were not enough, the article states:
“The AI takeover of Search is in full swing, especially as Google’s new AI Mode is going live for all US users. But for publishers, this continues the existential crisis around how Google Search is changing, with a new statement calling AI Mode “the definition of theft” while legal documents reveal that Google did consider opt out controls that ultimately weren’t implemented.”
Quick question: Is this a surprise action by the Google? Answer: Yes, if one ignores Google’s approach to information. No, if one pays a modicum of attention to how the company has approached “publishing” in the last 20 years. Google is a publisher, probably the largest generator of outputs in history. It protects its information, and others should too. If those others are non-Googley, that information is to Google what Jurassic Park’s velociraptors were to soft, juicy humanoids — lunch.
The write up says:
“As it stands today, publishers are unable to opt out of Google’s AI tools without effectively opting out of Search as a whole.”
I am a dinobaby, old, dumb, but smart enough to understand the value of a de facto monopoly. Most of the open source intelligence industry is built on Google dorks. Publishers may be the original “dorks” when it comes to understanding what happens when one controls access, distribution, and monetization of online.
“Giving publishers the ability to opt out of AI products while still benefiting from Search would ultimately make Google’s flashy new tools useless if enough sites made the switch. It was very much a move in the interest of building a better product.”
I think this means that Google cares about the users and search quality. There is not hint of revenue, copyright issues, or raw power. Google just … cares.
The article and by extension the publisher “9 to 5 Google” gently suggests that Google is just being Google:
“Google’s tools continue to serve the company and its users (mostly) well, but as they continue to bleed publishers dry, those publishers are on the verge of vanishing or, arguably worse, turning to cheap and poorly produced content just to get enough views to survive. This is a problem Google needs to address, as it’s making the internet as a whole worse for everyone.”
Yep, continuing to serve the company, its users, and fresh double talk. Enjoy.
Stephen E Arnold, June 2, 2025
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