You might be ghosting the internet. Can it survive?

The way we use the internet is changing, and it could have a big impact on the websites we visit every day. Recently, Google made a major change to its search results. Instead of showing a list of blue links at the top, Google now often displays an AI-generated answer, which it calls an 'AI Overview. ' These AI Overviews are meant to quickly answer your question, but they also change how people interact with search results. Sometimes, the AI answers are helpful, but other times, they can be confusing or even wrong.

A study by the Pew Research Center looked at how people use Google Search now that AI Overviews are common. They found that when people see an AI answer, they are much less likely to click on any of the links below. In fact, about 26 percent of the time, people just close their browser after seeing the AI response. This is a big problem for many websites, especially those that rely on visitors for advertising revenue. Websites that provide information, news, or entertainment often make money from ads, and if fewer people visit, their income drops. Some sites have seen their revenue fall by as much as 40 percent since AI Overviews became common. This makes it harder for people to keep creating high-quality content for the internet.

Google disagrees with these findings. The company says that it still sends billions of clicks to websites every day and that the study is flawed. Google claims that AI Overviews actually help people discover new websites and that the clicks from AI answers are more valuable because people spend more time on those sites. However, many experts and website owners say the opposite is true. They argue that AI Overviews are taking away visitors and making it harder for websites to survive. Some fear that if this trend continues, many of our favorite websites could disappear.

The main issue is that when AI gives you a quick answer, you might not feel the need to click on any other links. This means you miss out on different viewpoints and information. Also, AI can sometimes make mistakes and give incorrect answers. Google insists that its AI is accurate, but not everyone is convinced. Some people believe that Google is making things more convenient for users, but at the same time, it might be harming the internet by reducing the number of people who visit websites. If websites can't make enough money, they might stop creating new content, and the internet could become less interesting and useful for everyone. So, next time you search for something online, consider clicking on a link to support the websites you enjoy.