"World of DaaS" The LM Brief: AI Overviews and the Future of Publishing
Sep 26, 2025
A lawsuit from Penske Media against Google over AI-generated summaries raises concerns about copyright and the future of publishing. The discussion highlights how these summaries can harm publisher revenue by reducing traffic. The hosts explore the potential risks to journalism and the reputation of brands when nuances are lost. They also consider whether platforms should compensate publishers amidst a decline in web traffic. Lastly, there are reflections on how to ensure fair compensation for creators as AI continues to evolve.
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AI Summaries Replace Clicks And Revenue
- Google’s AI Overviews can satisfy users without visits, cutting publishers’ page views and revenue.
- Penske reports affiliate revenue down over a third and blames Google traffic loss.
Platform As The New Authority
- AI summaries can change who holds perceived authority over reporting and facts.
- Google positioning as an 'answer engine' risks shifting trust from journalists to platforms.
Fair Use Versus Substitution Effect
- The legal fight centers on whether AI summaries are transformative fair use or infringing derivative works.
- Penske argues substitution and commercial harm make the summaries not fair use.