Google has recently introduced a new feature called AI Overviews, which places artificial intelligence (AI) at the forefront of its search experience. When users perform a search, they now see a summarized response generated by an AI chatbot before the traditional list of search results. This change has influenced how people interact with Google, with many users spending more time on the search engine's website as they become accustomed to receiving direct answers from AI. In August, Liz Reid, Google’s vice-president of search, described the integration of AI as the most significant upgrade to the Google Search experience in its history. The company has also announced plans to roll out additional AI features in the future. The shift has raised concerns among website owners and media outlets, who are seeing a decline in traffic to their sites. This is because AI Overviews often provide answers directly within Google, reducing the need for users to click through to external websites. Clicks are a major source of revenue for websites through advertising, so a drop in traffic could mean a loss of income. Some large U.S. media companies have taken legal action against Google, claiming that AI summaries have redirected traffic away from their sites, thus cutting into their revenue. Google has denied these claims, stating that it has not observed a decline in overall traffic and that such accusations are based on “flawed methodologies.” Reid noted in 2023 that the total number of clicks from Google Search to websites has remained stable year-over-year. Users have had varied experiences with the new AI-driven search feature. Some, like Sionn Achog, a retired teacher from Dublin, have found that AI can provide answers but have also encountered instances where the AI admitted to being incorrect or misleading. Others, like Peter Warb from the UK, find AI responses more informative than the previous method of directing users to other websites. However, some users, such as Sean Peters from Portland, Oregon, argue that AI responses obscure the original sources of information and divert traffic from the websites that originally provided the content. As a result, some users have taken steps to disable AI Overviews using browser extensions or have switched to other search engines like DuckDuckGo or Ecosia, citing concerns about reliability and the need for direct access to search results. Some users have even stopped using Google altogether. Sofia, a postdoctoral physics researcher in Lausanne, Switzerland, said she no longer uses Google and now relies on other search engines or resources like Wikipedia and local libraries. These varied user experiences highlight the ongoing debate around the impact of AI on search behavior and the broader internet ecosystem. While Google continues to promote the benefits of AI integration, critics argue that the shift could affect the way information is accessed and shared online.