Google rolls out pay-per-use AI licensing program to publishers
Google has been quietly scaling a pay-per-use AI licensing scheme for publishers. But critics say the program looks less like a meaningful payout and more like a legal fig leaf.
Google is introducing a pay-per-use AI licensing program aimed at publishers, although some critics view it as more of a legal buffer than a genuine payment. The tech giant, which has largely avoided large lump-sum licensing deals with AI rivals such as OpenAI and major news organizations, has been quietly piloting a Search Console-based program that compensates publishers for their content contributing to AI-generated responses in Google's Gemini, AI Overviews, and AI mode.
Publishers who join the "AI contribution pilot" gain access to an AI earnings widget in their Search Console dashboard, which displays their monthly earnings (with some historical data) but does not provide details on how the payouts are calculated. Payments are usage-based with no upfront fee, and publishers can withdraw at any time.
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