Google: AI Threatens French Media Traffic
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The AI-generated summaries from Google, recently introduced in France, are at the center of a controversy. Since their launch, French media have expressed growing concerns about the potential impact of this technology on their online audience.
Google has integrated its new AI features, named AI Overview and AI Mode, into its search engine. While these tools are being deployed globally, their arrival in France only took place last month. However, this rapid introduction has already sparked reactions from media stakeholders.
The Alliance of General Information Press (Apig), which brings together around 300 French newspapers, has decided to respond to this situation. It has approached the Competition Authority to ensure that Google adheres to the commitments made in 2022 regarding the use of press content.
These commitments follow discussions on neighboring rights to copyright, aimed at ensuring that digital giants compensate media for the use of their content. The Apig emphasizes that Google launched its AI summaries without engaging in transparent and fair negotiations with publishers.
According to the Apig, publishers have faced a unilateral update of their licensing contracts, with the only alternative being a technical withdrawal that would have reduced their online visibility. This situation has placed them in a fait accompli, with no real room for negotiation.
The consequences of this technology could be significant for the media. A study conducted by Arcom in other European countries where AI summaries are already active estimates that the use of these summaries could lead to a decrease in traffic to news sites of 33% to 38%.
Despite this action, the Apig remains open to dialogue with Google. It does not oppose technological innovation but insists on the need for fair compensation to ensure the economic sustainability of media. The goal is to find a balance between the adoption of new technologies and the preservation of financial resources for press organizations.
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