The European Union has initiated an investigation into Google regarding its artificial intelligence (AI) summaries displayed in search results and the company's utilization of online content, including YouTube videos, for training its AI models. The European Commission will assess whether Google uses data from websites to power these services without providing appropriate compensation to publishers, and if content creators are offered adequate opportunities to opt out of such usage.
Scope of the Investigation
The investigation by the European Commission focuses on several key areas of Google's AI practices:
- AI Summaries in Search Results: The probe will examine how Google's AI generates summaries that appear above conventional search results and whether data from websites is utilized for this service.
- Publisher Compensation: The Commission will evaluate if web publishers receive appropriate compensation for their content's use in these AI summaries.
- YouTube Video Utilization: The investigation includes an examination of how YouTube videos may have been leveraged to enhance Google's broader AI systems.
- Creator Opt-Out Mechanisms: The probe will assess whether YouTube content creators are provided with an opportunity to opt out of their videos being used for AI model training.
- Google's AI Mode: The inquiry also covers Google's "AI Mode," also known as "AI Overview," which delivers conversational-style answers along with links to other web pages, functioning similarly to rival AI services.
Concerns Raised by Publishers and Creators
Concerns have been expressed by web publishers and YouTube video creators regarding the potential impact of Google's AI Overview summaries. These concerns include:
- Reduced Website Traffic: Publishers anticipate that AI summaries could lead to a reduction in direct user clicks to their websites.
- Impact on Advertising Revenue: A decrease in website traffic could subsequently affect advertising revenue for publishers. For instance, The Daily Mail reported an approximate 50% decrease in clicks from Google search results following the introduction of the AI Overview feature.
- Inadequate Compensation and Opt-Out: The Commission has indicated concerns that both web publishers and YouTube video creators may not be adequately compensated for the use of their content in training Google's AI models, nor provided with sufficient opt-out mechanisms.
Google's Response
A Google spokesperson commented on the investigation, stating that the inquiry "risks stifling innovation in a market that is more competitive than ever." The spokesperson added that "Europeans deserve to benefit from the latest technologies" and that Google "will continue to work closely with the news and creative industries as they transition to the AI era."
Industry Commentary
Ed Newton-Rex from Fairly Trained, an AI fairness advocacy organization, offered commentary on the situation. He suggested that creators face challenges in deciding whether to publish content online, given the implications for AI model training. Newton-Rex noted that publishing online may result in content being used by platforms like Google to develop AI services that could potentially compete with the creators' original work. He further stated that Google "essentially makes it a condition" of online publishing that the firm can "use your work to build AI that competes with you," and indicated that refraining from publishing online could be detrimental to a creator's career. He emphasized the timeliness of the investigation for creators globally.