Google reportedly tests paying publishers for AI search results
Google is paying about 100 publishers for content used in AI Overviews, AI Mode, and Gemini.
Google is running a pilot, first reported by Digiday and detailed by The Information, that pays about 100 publishers according to how much their content contributes to AI Overviews, AI Mode, and the Gemini chatbot. One publisher that joined at the start reportedly earned more than $1 million in a year, while a later participant earned about $50,000 to $60,000. The program follows publisher lawsuits and regulatory action: in June the UK required an opt-out from AI search features, and the EU opened a traffic-impact investigation and ordered search changes.
- About 100 publishers joined Google's payment pilot.
- Payouts cover AI Overviews, AI Mode, and Gemini.
- Reported earnings range from about $50,000 to over $1 million.
- UK and EU regulators are pressing Google over AI search.
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Around 100 publishers have joined Google’s pilot program, The Information reports.
Around 100 publishers have joined Google’s pilot program, The Information reports.
by Emma Roth
Sep 30, 2026, 2:51 PM UTC
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge
Emma Roth
is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.
Google has launched a pilot program that pays publishers for their contributions to its AI-powered search features, according to a report from The Information. The pilot program reportedly includes around 100 publishers and comes as Google faces scrutiny over the impact of its AI features on web traffic.
Digiday first reported on the pilot program, which began less than a year ago. As part of the test, Google is reportedly paying participating publishers for how much their content contributed to the AI Overviews and AI Mode features in Search, as well as its Gemini chatbot. One publisher that joined the program when it first started earned over $1 million in a year, while another that joined a few months ago has earned around $50,000 to $60,000, The Information reports.
Google’s AI-focused search changes have not only drawn criticism and lawsuits from publishers, but also from regulators around the globe. In June, the UK ruled that Google must allow publishers to opt out of appearing in AI search features, while the European Union opened an investigation into its impact on web traffic and recently ordered it to make changes to its search engine.
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