Google Summaries Aren't About AI, They're About Lock-In
Whether they call it AI summaries, knowledge panels, or AMP, Google takes actions that are less about functionality and more about locking you into its own ecosystem. Knowing that makes it possible for all of us to choose better services than Google's, defeating their anticompetitive goal. In this case, as it is so often, knowledge is power. In the old days, when dinosaurs roamed the earth and…
Google's latest feature of AI-powered search summaries isn't about advancing artificial intelligence, but rather about maintaining an iron grip on users within its ecosystem. This strategy, known as "enoshittification," is not a new concept and is exemplified by Google's history of prioritizing monetization over user convenience.
Among these actions, Google has previously employed sponsored links, AMP, and knowledge panels to keep users within its ecosystem and increase ad revenue, which is its primary source of income. Knowledge panels, which predate AI, provide concise answers to queries and are very similar to the new AI summaries, but instead of quoting sources, they are AI-generated.
The ultimate aim remains the same: to reduce the need for users to click on links and exit Google's ecosystem, thereby prolonging their stay on Google's platform and exposing them to more ads. However, recent data suggests that this approach has backfired, causing a decrease in ad revenue. Thus, Google is investing heavily to regain its lost ground, which could involve pivoting to video content.
However, it is crucial to remember that these features are primarily driven by Google's financial interests rather than technological advancements. Users have the power to opt-out, disable these features, or switch to other services.
Written by urgent.news from EFF Deeplinks's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
