Google has announced a new pilot program to test AI-powered article overviews directly on the Google News pages of participating publications. This initiative, unveiled on Wednesday, aims to leverage artificial intelligence to foster more engaged audiences and enhance the news consumption experience.
A diverse group of prominent news organizations is taking part in the program, including Der Spiegel, El País, Folha, Infobae, Kompas, The Guardian, The Times of India, The Washington Examiner, and The Washington Post, among others.
Google states that these AI-generated overviews will offer users greater context about an article before they decide to click through and read the full content. While there's a recognized risk that AI summaries might lead to fewer direct clicks on news articles, Google plans to provide direct payments to participating publishers. This financial compensation is intended to mitigate any potential decrease in traffic to their websites. It's important to note that these AI-powered overviews will exclusively appear on the Google News pages of the participating publications, not elsewhere on Google News or in standard Search results.
This isn't Google's first foray into AI-driven news summaries. In July, the company rolled out AI summaries within Discover, its main news feed in the Google search app. That update changed the feed to show multiple publisher logos alongside an AI-generated summary citing those sources, rather than a single headline. Additionally, as part of the new pilot program, Google is also exploring audio briefings for users who prefer listening to their news.
Google emphasizes that these new features will include clear attribution and direct links to the original articles. Beyond Google News, the company is also collaborating with organizations such as Estadão, Antara, Yonhap, and The Associated Press to integrate real-time information and improve results within the Gemini app. Furthermore, Google is rolling out its "Preferred Sources" feature globally, which was initially launched in the U.S. and India in August. This feature allows users to select their favorite news sites and blogs to appear prominently in the "Top Stories" section of Google search results. It will soon be available worldwide for English-language users, with a broader rollout to all supported languages planned for early next year.
While features like "Preferred Sources" aim to simplify access to news, they also carry the risk of potentially creating "ideological bubbles," limiting users' exposure to diverse perspectives. In related developments, Google also announced an increase in the number of inline links within its AI Mode. It's also introducing "contextual introductions" for embedded links, providing brief explanations of why a particular link might be useful to explore.
In its blog post, Google reiterated its commitment to adapting its products as news consumption evolves. The company stated,
"As the way people consume information evolves, we’ll continue to improve our products for people around the world and engage with feedback from stakeholders across the ecosystem. We’re doing this work in collaboration with websites and creators of all sizes, from major news publishers to new and emerging voices."
