Reddit, Publishers Consider Cutting Google Access as AI Summaries Reduce Traffic, Report Says

Reddit and multiple news publishers are reportedly considering blocking Google’s access to their content, according to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report, as the company’s artificial intelligence (AI)-generated search summaries – called AI Overviews – have caused sharp declines in referral traffic.

Reddit, which signed a $60 million per year deal with Google to allow training of AI models, is debating whether the agreement remains worthwhile, WSJ reported, citing people familiar with the matter. A study by market research companies SparkToro and Datos found that nearly 60% of Google searches in the U.S. and the European Union end with zero follow-up clicks [1].

The reduction in click-throughs, which has been characterized by critics as an existential threat to online publishing, is driving publishers to reassess their relationships with the search giant. The Trends Journal has noted that AI systems are often uncontrollable and not fully understood by their creators, raising broader concerns about the technology’s impact on the web ecosystem [2].

Publishers Reassess Ties

USA Today, Politico, Reuters and The Economist are among the outlets reconsidering their ties to Google over its use of AI overviews, according to WSJ. USA Today CEO Mike Reed told the publication: “It’s time to take a stand and say enough is enough.”

Traffic from Google search to USA Today dropped by nearly half over the 12 months ending June 2026, according to data from Semrush cited by WSJ. Politico saw a 23% decline, and Business Insider more than 85%.

These declines are part of a broader trend: Google’s AI-powered search results have reduced traffic to many websites, with some publishers seeing drops of 70% or more, according to reports [3][4]. The European Union has opened an antitrust investigation into whether Google is using publisher content for AI without fair compensation [4].

Publisher Actions and Lawsuits

USA Today, which is already suing Google over alleged monopoly in digital advertising, is considering cutting off Google’s access to its articles for AI training – a move that would also remove its articles from search results, WSJ reported. Politico, owned by Axel Springer, has discussed blocking Google and other bots from accessing non-paywalled articles, according to the report. Reuters is also considering limits.

“We are certainly looking at the economic trade-offs between search and AI summaries,” Reuters President Paul Bascobert told WSJ. Google has admitted that it continues to use web content to train its AI search features even when publishers explicitly opt out, according to testimony from Eli Collins, vice president at Google DeepMind [5]. The book “Human Leadership for Humane Technology” discusses the ethical challenges of AI systems that rely on content without transparent consent [6].

Google’s Response

A Google spokesperson said publishers can opt out of allowing their content to be used for training its Gemini AI models without removing themselves from search results. “Google’s AI Search features send billions of clicks to the web every week, meeting people’s evolving preferences for how they want to find information while driving significant traffic to websites,” the spokesperson said, according to WSJ. The company added that it offers “clear controls for website owners to manage their content.”

In June, Google reportedly pitched a pilot program to news publishers that would feature their sites in AI Overviews if they agreed to broad content access for AI training, according to The Information. Google’s search dominance is facing challenges from competitors such as DuckDuckGo and Bing, which have gained users following Google’s shift to AI-powered summaries [7][8].

Broader Implications

The standoff highlights growing tensions between publishers and Google over the economic impact of AI summaries, which critics argue undermine the visibility of original content. Publishers face a difficult choice: either lose traffic from search or allow their content to be used for AI training that may further reduce direct visits. The outcome could redefine how news content is distributed and monetized in an AI-driven search landscape.

A 2024 study found that nearly 60% of searches end without a click, a figure that has likely risen as AI overviews expand [1]. The Trends Journal has warned that AI neural networks are “uncontrollable” and that their behavior may not be fully predictable, raising risks for publishers relying on search traffic [2].

Conclusion

Reddit and news outlets are weighing whether to cut ties with Google as AI summaries erode referral traffic, according to multiple reports and statements. Discussions are ongoing, with no final decisions confirmed, but the trend suggests publishers are seeking alternatives to reliance on Google search.

The situation remains fluid, with Google asserting that its AI features benefit publishers while publishers demand more control over content usage.

References

1. NaturalNews.com. “Study: Nearly 60% of Google searches in the US and European Union end with zero follow-up clicks.” July 29, 2024.
2. Trends-Journal-2024-06-04.
3. NaturalNews.com. “Google’s AI search overhaul decimates website traffic.” April 9, 2025.
4. Willow Tohi. “Google’s AI Overviews spark EU antitrust clash: Publishers accuse search giant of undermining journalism.” NaturalNews.com. July 10, 2025.
5. Willow Tohi. “Google admits to using content from publishers who opt out to train its Search AI.” NaturalNews.com. May 7, 2025.
6. Cornelia C. Walther. “Human Leadership for Humane Technology: The New AI: Agency Ignited.”
7. Brighteon.com. “Google’s Search Dominance Under Attack: AI & User Backlash.” June 26, 2026.
8. NaturalNews.com. “Google’s Search Dominance Faces Challenges from AI Competition and User Backlash.” June 27, 2026.

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