Google's forced AI opt out: what changes - and what doesn't - for publishers

""We're now exploring updates to our controls to let sites specifically opt out of search generative AI features," said Ron Eden, Google's principal for product management, in a statement. "Any new controls need to avoid breaking search in a way that leads to a fragmented or confusing experience for people. As AI increasingly becomes a core part of how people find information, any new controls also need to be simple and scalable for website owners," he added."

"Opt out must be effective at both site-wide and page levels, and Google cannot penalize or downrank sites that choose to opt out. Fair ranking and no penalties: publishers that opt out can't be downranked or displayed differently in Google's general search results. Google must publish clear information about how publisher content is used in AI training, grounding and generative AI features."

The U.K'.s Competition Markets Authority proposes rules giving publishers control over use of their content in Google's generative AI features, including AI Overviews and AI Mode. Publishers can opt out site-wide or at page level while continuing to appear in normal search results. Opt-outs must not trigger downranking or display differences in general search. Google must publish clear information about how publisher content is used in AI training, grounding, and generative outputs, including engagement metrics, impressions, and clickthrough rates. Google says it will explore updates to controls that avoid fragmenting search and remain simple and scalable. Some questions remain unresolved.

Read at Digiday