Google just confirmed what many publishers have been dreading: AI summaries are now live in Discover, the main news feed within Google's search app on iOS and Android. This isn't another test; it's a full U.S. launch that fundamentally changes how millions of users consume news daily.
Instead of seeing a headline from a major publication, users now see multiple news publishers' logos stacked in the top-left corner, followed by an AI-generated summary that cites those sources. Google warns that these summaries are generated with AI, "which can make mistakes," but the damage to publisher traffic is immediate and real.
A Google spokesperson confirmed this is not a test, but actually a U.S. launch. The feature will appear on iOS and Android in the U.S., with a focus on trending lifestyle topics like sports and entertainment. Translation: Google is starting with the content categories that drive the highest engagement and advertising revenue for publishers.
The timing couldn't be worse for publishers. Data from Similarweb shows that worldwide search traffic fell by 15% year-over-year as of June, but here's the stat that really hurts: the number of news searches on the web that result in no click-throughs to news websites had grown from 56% in May 2024, when AI Overviews launched, to nearly 69% as of May 2025. In just one year, Google's AI features have pushed the zero-click rate for news searches from slightly more than half to more than two-thirds. Organic traffic also declined, dropping from more than 2.3 billion visits at its peak in mid-2024 to fewer than 1.7 billion.
Three weeks ago, Google launched Offerwall, a feature designed to help publishers generate revenue through alternative methods like micropayments, surveys, and newsletter sign-ups. Google noted that publishers with Offerwall saw an average revenue uplift of 9% during its year-plus in testing.
Google Discover still remained a source for clicks, even as traffic from Google Search declined, but if the AI summaries roll out more broadly within the Google app, that will no longer be the case. Many of my publisher clients have clung to Discover as their last reliable traffic source from Google's ecosystem. Oops.
This isn't accidental. Google is methodically training users to consume information without leaving Google's properties. First came AI Overviews in search results, then AI Mode for conversational queries, and now AI summaries in Discover. Each step reduces the need for users to visit publisher websites while Google captures the value from their content.
There are several probable futures unfolding here. One, is the obvious transition from SEO to AEO. (See: The AEO Tactical Playbook: Machine-Readable Websites & Answer Engine Optimization). There are many others that I'll go into in subsequent posts.
As always, your thoughts and comments are both welcome and encouraged. -s
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.
