Google Discover adds AI summaries, threatening publishers with further traffic declines | TechCrunch

Google is rolling out AI-generated summaries in its Discover feed within the Google app on iOS and Android in the U.S., a move that could further decrease traffic to news publishers' websites. Instead of displaying headlines, the app now presents AI-generated summaries citing multiple news sources, accompanied by their logos. This feature is currently focused on trending lifestyle topics like sports and entertainment. Google confirmed this is not a test, but an official launch of the feature.
This update comes as publishers are already grappling with declining traffic due to AI-powered features like Google's AI Overviews and AI Mode, which allow users to get answers without visiting the original websites. The publishing industry is concerned about the impact of AI on website traffic and referrals. A recent report from The Economist revealed a 15% year-over-year decline in worldwide search traffic as of June, highlighting the broader trend of decreasing traffic to news websites.
Google has attempted to mitigate these concerns with initiatives like Offerwall, a feature allowing publishers to generate revenue through methods other than ad-dependent options. However, many publishers feel these tools are arriving too late, as traffic has already significantly decreased. Data indicates a rise in news searches that result in no click-throughs to news websites, increasing from 56% in May 2024 to nearly 69% in May 2025.
The introduction of AI summaries in Google Discover, which previously remained a source of clicks even with declines in Google Search traffic, poses a new challenge for publishers. As the AI summaries become more widespread within the Google app, it may further reduce the need for users to visit news websites directly, exacerbating the existing traffic decline and intensifying the pressure on publishers to adapt to the evolving landscape.