Google tests pilot that pays publishers when their content appears in AI results
Google has begun a limited "AI contribution pilot" that pays websites and publishers when their material is used to generate AI Overviews and other generative‑AI search results. The program, first reported by Digiday, is being rolled out to at least dozens of small and mid‑sized publishers and is said to extend beyond traditional news outlets. Participants see a new panel in Search Console that…
Key points
- Google’s pilot pays publishers when their content is used in AI‑generated search answers.
- The test involves at least dozens of small and mid‑sized publishers, beyond news sites.
- A new Search Console panel shows earnings, with a hidden support page detailing the program.
Google says the effort follows a June 2026 public tease and builds on a 2025 commercial partnership program with major news publishers. Publishers involved describe the information they receive as "basic" but express hope that the initiative sets a precedent for compensating sites for traffic lost to AI‑driven answers. The pilot aims to address concerns that generative AI is siphoning traffic away from the open web, potentially restoring some revenue for content creators.
The story so far
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Google ‘AI contribution pilot’ tests paying websites when they’re used in AI results
9to5google.com · 16 September 2026
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