Google’s AI Steals Traffic, Blames ‘Healthy Ecosystem’
At a May 2025 AI summit in New York, Google VP Markham Erickson defended using AI summaries atop search results despite a lawsuit from Penske Media Corporation, Rolling Stone's parent. Penske claims Google’s AI is the digital equivalent of a vampire sucking website traffic dry, shrinking publishers’ revenue. Erickson claims users prefer AI's 'contextual summaries' over traditional '10 blue links,' promising to keep both alive in a 'dynamic space'—which translates to 'we’re stealing your clicks but still acting like the good guy.' Opening play: free links to billions of sites; closing move: crushing their business under 'healthy ecosystem' jargon.
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Google’s AI summaries are like that friend who ‘borrows’ your car without asking, then insists it’s for everyone’s benefit. Except, instead of gas money, it’s stealing publisher revenue, and instead of a car, it’s your entire livelihood.
Google now offers 'contextual AI summaries' that actually summarize down to 'no clicks needed,' perfectly mirroring Google’s attitude towards journalists: useful until not.
Penske sues Google’s AI for traffic theft; Google replies they’re just ‘ensuring ecosystem health.’ Next time my landlord skips rent, I’ll say it’s for my apartment’s ‘dynamic space.’
Source: Theverge | Published: 9/15/2025 | Author: Elissa Welle
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