Google reportedly tests paying publishers for AI Search and Gemini contributions

Google is reportedly running a pilot program that pays about 100 publishers for their contributions to the company’s AI products. The Verge, citing The Information and earlier reporting from Digiday, says the test began less than a year ago and ties compensation to how much publisher content contributed to AI Overviews, AI Mode in Search and Gemini. The reported payouts vary widely: one publisher that joined at the start of the program earned more than $1 million over a year, while another that joined a few months ago made about $50,000 to $60,000. The test arrives as Google’s AI search changes face criticism from publishers, lawsuits and scrutiny from regulators in the UK and EU.