News outlets in crisis mode as Google-led AI search push crushes website traffic
New York PostMAY 31
Google Launches AI Mode Search in the UK
Above: Close-up of a person's hand holding an iPhone and using Google AI Mode in California, March 24, 2025. Image copyright: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images
The Spin
Techno-optimist narrative
AI Mode is a revolutionary advancement that finally matches how people naturally think and communicate. The technology enables users to ask complex, multi-part questions in conversational language, rather than crafting keyword strings, unlocking information-seeking journeys that were previously impossible. This innovation expands content discovery opportunities, helping people find information that was previously difficult to locate.
Techno-skeptic narrative
This AI overhaul threatens to devastate web businesses by keeping users on Google's platform instead of directing them to original content sources. Publishers report traffic drops of up to 50% since the launch of AI features, with users clicking through to websites only once every 100 searches when AI summaries appear. The system essentially harvests content to train AI, which then renders original publishers redundant.