Google tests revenue sharing for sites powering its AI answers

Google is testing a new system to pay publishers whose content is used by its AI tools, including Gemini, AI Overviews, and AI Mode, with payments based on the importance of their contributions to AI-generated answers. The program, accessed through Google Search Console, shows monthly earnings to participating editors but lacks transparency on how amounts are calculated. Initial payments are reportedly very low, often below advertising revenue, and publishers cannot determine why specific content earns certain sums. Google describes this as a preliminary test while it seeks the right formula to reward sites that keep its AI responses current and reliable. The initiative comes as AI Overviews and AI Mode increasingly display answers directly in search results, reducing traffic to publisher websites.