The Future of News Publishing Amid Google's AI Overviews
WikiHow CEO Elizabeth Douglas testified in a court case that Google, while contributing to their revenue through ad tools and licensing, is also a major factor in the decline of web traffic due to AI features like AI Overviews, which reduce users clicking through to publisher sites. She expressed concern that breaking up Google's ad business could disrupt her revenue streams, despite the company's monopolistic practices being under legal scrutiny. The case highlights the complex relationship between publishers and Google's dominant ad and search tools amid ongoing antitrust investigations.