Google has implemented an AI-powered feature that replaces original news headlines with AI-generated versions in its content feed, including Google Discover and push notifications. The company states this feature "performs well for user satisfaction" and describes the AI-generated titles as "trending topics."
Concerns Over Accuracy and Attribution
Critics, including news editors, report that these AI-generated headlines frequently contain factual inaccuracies, misleading claims, or confuse details between different stories. For example, Google's AI claimed the "US reverses foreign drone ban," linking to a story that explicitly stated the ban was not reversed. Another instance involved a headline about "Steam Machine price & HDMI details emerge" when no such details had been released.
Publishers express concern that these AI headlines misrepresent their content and undermine their ability to market their own work effectively. Jim Fisher of PCMag stated, "It makes me feel icky" regarding the AI's reinterpretation of his article. Publications also note that Google sometimes truncates genuine headlines, making them difficult to read, or generates generic titles for original, detailed stories.
Google's Statement
Google spokesperson Jennifer Kutz explained that the feature helps users explore topics covered by multiple creators, providing an AI-powered overview and links to related stories. She clarified that the overview headline "reflects information across a range of sites, and is not a rewrite of an individual article headline." Google declined an interview request for further explanation.
Ineffective Clickbait Filtering
The AI system has also been observed failing to filter out human-generated clickbait headlines. An example cited a headline promising a "Star Wars Outlaws Free Download" which, upon reading the article, revealed only a single game code was being given away in a limited regional promotion. This indicates the AI does not consistently distinguish between legitimate news and sensationalized content.