Puppy advice in the age of AI answer engines

"Before ChatGPT launched in late 2022, I would have Googled puppy advice. I'd see a summarized answer at the top (and plenty of ads), but also a long list of links to sites I'd visit for detailed guidance. Those sites would get traffic and perhaps ad revenue, a subscription, or a purchase - funding the reporting and research behind the information."

"That "grand bargain" is dead. It's far easier to ask a chatbot and get instant answers. Google is doing this a lot more now, too, chasing ChatGPT's lead. The result is a dramatic drain on the information economy that built the modern web."

"AI answer engines still rely on the web for data and accuracy, but they send far less credit - and traffic - back to original sources. Welcome to the era of AI answer engines. They give you information directly instead of sending you out to the web."

AI chatbots like ChatGPT provide comprehensive answers directly within conversations, eliminating the need for users to visit multiple websites. This represents a fundamental shift from traditional search engines, which displayed summarized answers alongside links to source material. Previously, websites received traffic and revenue from these referrals, funding reporting and research. The new AI-driven model breaks this "grand bargain" by delivering instant answers without directing credit or traffic to original sources. While AI systems still rely on web data for accuracy, they return minimal traffic to publishers. This disruption significantly impacts the information economy, contributing to major newsroom cuts at organizations like The Washington Post.

Read at Business Insider