
Google’s AI Overviews Now in Discover: What It Means for You
Google is an internet giant that helps users find information on the web. One of Google’s latest tools is AI Overviews. This tool is used to make short summaries of stories by computers. A summary is a shorter version of a story. With the rise of AI in Smartphones, such tools are becoming more accessible, allowing users to quickly get key information on their devices without reading the entire content.
Google uses AI Overviews for Discovery. Google's Discover app is available on both your smartphone and tablet. It shows you interesting stories, videos, or news that you may enjoy.
Learn more about the new update and what it means to you and those who wrote these stories.
What is Google Discover?
Google Discover is a part of the Google app. You can see pictures, videos, and news. It does not require you to search. Discover suggests stories based on your previous browsing.
Discover may show you news about football if, for example, you watch lots of football videos. It might tell you stories about planets and rockets if you are interested in space.
What is an AI overview?
An AI overview is a short summary written by a computer, not a person. The AI (artificial intelligence) reads the story and then writes a few sentences to explain what it’s about.
These summaries now show up at the top of some stories in Google Discover. That means you can read a quick summary before clicking on the full article.
Each AI overview has a little message under it. It says:
“Generated with AI, which can make mistakes.”
This means that the computer tries its best, but the summary might not be perfect.
What's New?
Before, AI Overviews were only available in Google Search. You can ask a question, and Google will give you the answer. Google has also added AI overviews to the Explore feed.
This change is taking place slowly. Currently, the United States is only available. It's compatible with Android and iPhones but only with some stories. These stories mostly deal with:
-
Sport
-
Movies
-
Musicians
-
Celebrities
AI Overviews will not be included in every article. Google is likely to add more AI-related stories soon.
Why do people like AI overviews?
AI overviews are useful to many people. Why?
-
You can read an article faster.
-
The main idea is clear without having to read everything.
-
You can choose if you wish to read the entire article.
AI overviews can save you time. The short summary is very helpful if you want to learn quickly or are in a hurry.
Why are some people worried?
AI Overviews are not a popular topic. Some people, especially those who write news stories, are concerned.
You might not click the full article after reading an AI summary. This means that the website will not receive a visit. If people stop clicking stories, websites will get less traffic. Less traffic is
-
Advertisers see fewer people
-
The money they make is less
-
The writers may not be paid
Websites and writers work hard to create good stories. They may not be able to continue if no one reads their stories.
It Happened On YouTube Too
The same problem occurred on YouTube. Google has added AI overviews for YouTube videos. Some YouTubers complained, and many were upset. YouTubers earn less money when fewer people view their videos, which directly impacts their income. While the AI overview is good for users because it helps them quickly understand video content, it can reduce the number of views creators receive.
This shift highlights a growing tension between advancing Smartphone Technologies and the economic interests of content creators on platforms like YouTube.
What is Google doing to help?
Google is aware that there are people who are concerned. They created Offerwall. This tool allows websites to earn money in new ways.
Offerwall allows websites to:
-
Watch a short advertisement
-
Pay a small sum (also called a micropayment).
-
Take a short quiz or survey
-
Subscribe to more stories
Google claims that this allows websites to make money even if less people click on the articles.
But Website Visits Are Still Going Down
Many websites get fewer visitors, even with Offerwall. According to a report in The Economist, Google Search traffic has dropped 15% since last year. This means that fewer people are clicking links.
If this continues, it may be necessary to shut down small websites. This would result in fewer videos, stories and news.
What can you do to help?
You can support your favorite writers and websites. Here's how:
-
Click here to read the entire article.
-
Share the story with your friends if you find it interesting
-
When a website requests that you watch a brief ad, or complete a survey it helps them as well
It's important to read the full story, even if AI is cool. You'll get the full story and help those who are working hard to bring it to you.
Will there be more AI overviews?
Yes! Google is looking to expand the use of AI Overviews. Google already uses them in Google Search and YouTube. Now they are using them on Discover. AI summaries could be used in the future for:
-
Google Maps
-
Google News
-
Google Classroom and other apps
Google believes AI will help people to learn faster and find better answers. We must ensure that AI doesn't harm the people who produce real content.
What happens next?
Currently, AI overviews only appear for a few people in the U.S. Google is likely to add more stories in the near future, and possibly more countries. You might start seeing these AI summaries on your Discover page in the coming months.
Final Thoughts
AI summaries are smart, short summaries that computers create. These summaries are designed to make it easier for people to understand stories. They are helpful to many people and can save them time.
They also cause some problems. They are concerned about the future of writers, websites and YouTubers. These creators could earn less money if too many people stop watching videos or reading complete stories. Some may even stop making content.
While AI can be helpful, it is important to remember that we must also click, read and support people in real life.
FAQs About Google’s AI Overviews in Discover
Q.1: What is AI Overview?
AI Overview is an automated summary. You can get a quick overview of a story without having to read the entire thing.
Q.2: Where can I find AI overviews?
You can find them in Discover. Google Discover is a section of the Google App that displays stories, images, and videos.
Q3. Who is the author of AI overviews?
AI is responsible for writing them. This means artificial intelligence. It is a computer that can read the story and summarize it.
Q4: Does Discover include AI overviews for all articles?
Only a few stories currently have summaries , mainly about celebrities, sports, or movies. Later, more stories might get summaries.
Q5: Why don't some people like AI overviews?
Some people worry that if they read only the summary of an article, they may not choose to click on the complete article. It means that websites receive fewer visitors and less money.