Google is running a “small” experiment replacing news headlines in search results with AI-generated ones, after adding the feature in Google Discover in January
We're seeing Verge headlines rewritten by Google AI. … Since roughly the turn of the millennium, Google Search has been the bedrock of the web.
The Verge Sean Hollister
Related Coverage
- Back in 2020, I wrote this about Google's AMP: https://exple.tive.org/... Well, today we find out that Google is using its whole AI summary thing to change what journalism outlets are writing. — https://www.theverge.com/... Usual usual for the Big G, three things are true: — No human actually wants this. … @mhoye@cosocial.ca
- > For example, Google reduced our headline “I used the ‘cheat on everything’ AI tool and it didn't help me cheat on anything” to just five words: “'Cheat on everything' AI tool.” It almost sounds like we're endorsing a product we do not recommend at all. — https://www.theverge.com/... … @stefan@stefanbohacek.online · Stefan Bohacek
- This is an absolutely horrible idea and Google should be bloody ashamed for even testing it. Turn the experiment off and destroy the source code. https://www.theverge.com/... @grigs@front-end.social · Jason Grigsby
- Google confirms AI headline rewrites test in Search results Search Engine Land · Danny Goodwin
- Google experiments with AI-generated headlines in search results Digital Trends · Moinak Pal
- google is now completely untrustworthy for even basic information. — https://www.theverge.com/... @munin@infosec.exchange
- Amid ongoing visibility issues in AI Overviews, Google is now replacing publisher headlines with AI alternatives 🚨 — Unfortunately, this trend isn't entirely new. … Louisa Frahm
- Google's AI might rewrite this headline The A.V. Club · Matt Schimkowitz
- Buzzfeed has no runway left to pivot Simon Owens's Media Newsletter · Simon Owens
- Is Google using AI to rewrite headlines in search results? GovTech
- Google should not do this! Bad headlines are the most common and prominent way humans mess up articles, and having AI do this on top is just going to make it much, much worse. … Vanessa Otero
Discussion
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@justinhendrix
Justin Hendrix
on bluesky
Google started rewriting headlines for videos in search results years ago; perhaps not a surprise it would do so now for news organizations, but still wonder what it means for a platform to re-author content in this way. [embedded post]
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@quinnypig.com
Corey Quinn
on bluesky
Google is running a “small” experiment in being a colossal piece of corporate shit. [embedded post]
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@reckless
Nilay Patel
on bluesky
Google is now screwing with the 10 blue links in traditional search and rewriting headlines - including ours - to be the worst kind of slop. This sucks so bad www.theverge.com/tech/896490/ ... [image]
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@seanokane
Sean O'Kane
on bluesky
Not to mention the disrespect (and also probably contempt) for the news outlets and other websites that, it should always be remembered, are the providers of actual content that people use Google to find. — www.theverge.com/tech/896490/ ...
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@seanhollister
Sean Hollister
on bluesky
Over the past few months, we caught Google replacing news headlines in Google Search — yes, with AI. — Is nothing sacred anymore? www.theverge.com/tech/896490/ ...
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@miasato
Mia Sato
on bluesky
my colleague @seanhollister.bsky.social has been all over this story! from his piece this morning: www.theverge.com/tech/896490/ ... [image]
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r/technology
r
on reddit
Google Search is now using AI to replace headlines
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@bobbyallyn
Bobby Allyn
on bluesky
just imagine: Google's AI puts a slop headline on a credible source stating the opposite of what happened, causing a prediction market to resolve. handwringing ensues over AI warping reality and the financialization of everything, only after traders have cashed out — www.thever…
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@juxtacognition
Angie Nikoleychuk
on bluesky
Rewriting titles went poorly last time. I can see how getting AI to do this would be any better. [embedded post]
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@seamoosi
Eric Van Allen
on bluesky
feel like i've been saying for a while that making editorial plans around appeasing the Google machine was a bad idea, putting you at the mercy of a capricious god. — vindication does not feel good, though. this is obviously bad, for everyone. — www.theverge.com/tech/896490/…
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@miasato
Mia Sato
on bluesky
this is completely insane: since when is it acceptable for a tech company to rewrite news outlets' headlines without their consent? especially at a time when audiences are sensitive to how stories are framed in headlines? (ie Israel/Palestine, the Trump admin, ICE) — www.thev…
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@quinnypig
Corey Quinn
on x
Google is running a “small” experiment in being a colossal piece of corporate shit.