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AI overviews cause massive drop in search clicks

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Re: AI overviews cause massive drop in search clicks

#451

Post by djeastm »

MOARDONGZPLZ wrote: post #394
benrutter wrote: post #373

A lot of the comments here are along the lines of "websites are often hostile, and AI summaries are a better user experience" which I agree with for most cases. I think the main thing to be worried about is that this model is undermining the fundamental economic model the internet's currently based on. If I create content like recipes, journalism etc, previously I had exclusive rights to my created content and could…

> I think the main thing to be worried about is that this model is undermining the fundamental economic model the internet's currently based on. This would be lovely. > I think the worst case scenario is that people stop publishing content on the web altogether. The most likely one is that search/summary engines eat up money that previously came from content creators. More than likely, people return to publishing con…

I hope things turn out the way you suggest. If we could return to a pre-2000s, pre-Dotcom boom internet I would be ever so happy, but I'm skeptical.

Re: AI overviews cause massive drop in search clicks

#452

Post by eitland »

cudder wrote: post #420
eitland wrote: post #379

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please show me where GDPR says this. I think you'll find that GDPR says the opposite and the only reason this continues to happen is because authorities don't have enough resources to go after every at the same time and also because European authorities have a hard time against US companies.

Sure, here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CEL... End of recital (47): > The processing of personal data for direct marketing purposes may be regarded as carried out for a legitimate interest.

Have my upvote. I have just learned that targeted ads might be considered direct marketing. I always thought it was limited to things that had my name and address (physical, email or other) on it, excluding online ads unless they were part of a "logged in experience" like upsells inside the product I am currently using.

That said, I read the rest of the recital and I think it is rather clear to the degree that such things can be clear that if you didn't expect it, it isn't legal. Here are some quotes:

- "[...]provided that the interests or the fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject are not overriding, taking into consideration the reasonable expectations of data subjects based on their relationship with the controller."

- "At any rate the existence of a legitimate interest would need careful assessment including whether a data subject can reasonably expect at the time and in the context of the collection of the personal data that processing for that purpose may take place."

I can assure you the even after reading this, if I have clicked "necessary only" (as this discussion started with) it is not my reasonable expectation that any data are stored except those that are strictly necessary for the navigation and the user visible features[1] of the site works.

I'll admit that it seems some people think there is an argument that can me made that online ads can be direct marketing, but I would not risk any of my savings to defend that claim in court and I don't think Facebook or Google want to help you either as they seem to trying their best to prevent people from targeting individuals or at least pretending they do. And if it does, it is still covered by the conditions above.

[1]: and yes, that means user features, so unless you are creating an online ad-collection of some kind, that probably does not mean ads

Re: AI overviews cause massive drop in search clicks

#453

Post by carlosjobim »

karel-3d wrote: post #446

I just wonder if AI will destroy the internet... what it will use to train the next generation on? If people go to AI instead of reddit and stack overflow, what will they train the next models on? They have used reddit extensively to train the first GPT models. I guess that's "tomorrow's problem" though

> if AI will destroy the internet... what it will use to train the next generation on?

Spying on you when you're fixing your carburetor and then making a how-to guide for other people.

Re: AI overviews cause massive drop in search clicks

#454

Post by tonyedgecombe »

MOARDONGZPLZ wrote: post #394
benrutter wrote: post #373

A lot of the comments here are along the lines of "websites are often hostile, and AI summaries are a better user experience" which I agree with for most cases. I think the main thing to be worried about is that this model is undermining the fundamental economic model the internet's currently based on. If I create content like recipes, journalism etc, previously I had exclusive rights to my created content and could…

> I think the main thing to be worried about is that this model is undermining the fundamental economic model the internet's currently based on. This would be lovely. > I think the worst case scenario is that people stop publishing content on the web altogether. The most likely one is that search/summary engines eat up money that previously came from content creators. More than likely, people return to publishing con…

>More than likely, people return to publishing content because they love the subject matter and not because it is an angle to “create content” or “gain followers” or show ads.

Why would you do that if you thought it was going to be hoovered up by some giant corporation and spat out again for $20 a month with no attribution.

Re: AI overviews cause massive drop in search clicks

#455

Post by progbits »

hereonout2 wrote: post #347
littlecranky67 wrote: post #233

Here is the experience when clicking a link on mobile: * Page loads, immediately when I start scrolling and reading a popup trying to get tracking consent * If I am lucky, there is a "necessary only". When unlucky I need to click "manage options" and first see how to reject all tracking * There is a sticky banner on top/bottom taking 20-30% of my screen upselling me a subscription or asking me to install their app. U…

You forgot the part about when you actually get to the content, there's usually about 5 paragraphs of SEO filler text before it actually gets onto answering the topic of the post.

You are lucky if they even answer.

Most of those are like:

    $movie release date
    
    
    
    While we don't know the actual $movie release date yet, ...

Re: AI overviews cause massive drop in search clicks

#456

Post by lazide »

carlosjobim wrote: post #449
lazide wrote: post #322

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That same person might have actually paid money if they weren’t (somewhat legitimately) lied to about it being free. Or just not gone. Instead it’s the worst outcome for everyone, and everyone is angry and thinks each other are assholes. I guess that does sum up America the last few years eh?

> That same person might have actually paid money if they weren’t (somewhat legitimately) lied to about it being free. Or just not gone. His problem.

When people like that show up and start screaming and yelling at the staff, it’s everyone’s problem.

Re: AI overviews cause massive drop in search clicks

#457

Post by layer8 »

pjc50 wrote: post #392
benrutter wrote: post #373

A lot of the comments here are along the lines of "websites are often hostile, and AI summaries are a better user experience" which I agree with for most cases. I think the main thing to be worried about is that this model is undermining the fundamental economic model the internet's currently based on. If I create content like recipes, journalism etc, previously I had exclusive rights to my created content and could…

> I think the worst case scenario is that people stop publishing content on the web altogether Quite clearly heading in that direction, but with a twist: the only people left will be advertising or propaganda, if there's no money in authenticity or correctness.

There was little to no money in authenticity or correctness in the heyday of home pages and personal blogs. People published because they were excited about sharing information and opinions. That was arguably the internet at its best.

Re: AI overviews cause massive drop in search clicks

#458

Post by tonyedgecombe »

sothatsit wrote: post #82
ncallaway wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dear lord please don’t use an AI overview answer for food safety. If you made a bet with your friend and are using the AI overview to settle it, fine. But please please click on an actual result from a trusted source if you’re deciding what temperature to cook meat to

The problem is that SEO has made it hard to find trustworthy sites in the first place. The places I trust the most now for getting random information is Reddit and Wikipedia, which is absolutely ridiculous as they are terrible options. But SEO slop machines have made it so hard to find the good websites without putting in more legwork than makes sense a lot of the time. Funnily enough, this makes AI look like a good…

>The problem is that SEO has made it hard to find trustworthy sites in the first place.

We should remember that's partly Google's fault as well. They decided SEO sites were OK.

Re: AI overviews cause massive drop in search clicks

#459

Post by mrkramer »

Google introduced its Google Knowledge Graph in 2012 and for sure it caused the drop in website clicks but I would say not that significant. People want quality content and they will always look for quality websites with or without AI overviews. My digital marketing professor once said that customers who look beyond first page results are the most valuable ones, because they are dedicated users and customers. People who read AI overviews won't be your first class users and customers.

Re: AI overviews cause massive drop in search clicks

#460

Post by inopinatus »

littlecranky67 wrote: post #233

Here is the experience when clicking a link on mobile: * Page loads, immediately when I start scrolling and reading a popup trying to get tracking consent * If I am lucky, there is a "necessary only". When unlucky I need to click "manage options" and first see how to reject all tracking * There is a sticky banner on top/bottom taking 20-30% of my screen upselling me a subscription or asking me to install their app. U…

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