Google has introduced AI-generated summaries in its Discover news feed on the Google search app for iOS and Android in the U.S., displaying multiple publishers' logos alongside AI summaries that cite those sources. This feature, focused on trending lifestyle topics like sports and entertainment, aims to help users decide which pages to visit but warns that AI summaries can make mistakes. Google is also experimenting with other news presentation formats, such as bullet points and grouped related stories, to enhance user experience.
Impact on Publishers and Traffic Decline
The rollout comes amid growing concern among publishers about declining website traffic due to AI features like Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode, which provide answers directly without requiring users to visit news sites. Data from Similarweb shows a 15% year-over-year drop in worldwide search traffic as of June 2025, with news searches resulting in no click-throughs rising from 56% in May 2024 to nearly 69% in May 2025. Organic traffic to news sites fell from over 2.3 billion visits at its peak in mid-2024 to fewer than 1.7 billion.
Google has attempted to support publishers through Offerwall, a feature allowing revenue generation beyond ads via micropayments, surveys, newsletter sign-ups, and more. However, many publishers feel these measures are too late to counteract the steep traffic declines.
Additional Context on AI Usage Limits at Anthropic
Separately, Anthropic has imposed unexpected, restrictive usage limits on its Claude Code AI service, particularly affecting heavy users on the $200/month Max plan. Users report abrupt "Claude usage limit reached" messages without prior notice or clear communication, causing frustration and project delays. Anthropic acknowledged slower response times and is working on resolving the issues but has not clarified changes to usage policies. The tiered pricing model lacks guaranteed access levels, creating uncertainty for users about service availability.
Summary
- Google’s AI summaries in Discover aggregate multiple news sources with AI-generated content, aiming to improve user decision-making but potentially reducing direct traffic to publishers.
- News publishers face significant declines in search-driven traffic, with AI-generated answers reducing click-throughs to original sites.
- Google’s Offerwall attempts to diversify publisher revenue but may not offset traffic losses.
- Anthropic’s Claude Code users experience restrictive, poorly communicated usage limits, causing user dissatisfaction and operational disruption.
- These developments highlight ongoing tensions between AI-driven content delivery and traditional publisher traffic and revenue models.
