Google started rolling out AI-generated summaries inside its Discover news feed on iOS and Android. Instead of just headlines, users now see multiple news publishers’ logos and a short AI summary citing those sources.
The app warns these summaries are AI-generated and “can make mistakes.”
The feature is currently spotted only in some stories, suggesting it’s a test. TechCrunch saw it live in both iOS and Android apps in the U.S. Google hasn’t commented on the rollout scale. 
Besides summaries, Google is testing other formats in Discover, like bullet points under headlines and grouping related stories. For example, an article about Trump’s Ukraine deal linked to other Trump stories, and a Washington Post ICE article included bullet point summaries.
Publishers like The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo, Bloomberg, and USA Today are also experimenting with AI summaries on their sites. Startups like Particle are using AI for deep-dive news reading with follow-up questions and multiple viewpoints.
The problem: AI answers cut into publisher web traffic. Google’s AI Overviews and chat features deliver answers directly, reducing site visits. Platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity show the same trend.
Google launched Offerwall last year to help publishers earn beyond ads with micropayments, surveys, or newsletter sign-ups. But many say it’s too late as traffic has already tanked.
The Economist reported worldwide search traffic dropped 15% year-over-year by June, citing Similarweb data.
Similarweb also found news search click-throughs fell from 56% in May 2024 to nearly 69% in May 2025 after Google’s AI Overviews launched. Organic news visits shrunk from a peak of over 2.3 billion in mid-2024 to under 1.7 billion now.
Google Discover had been a traffic source even as Google Search visits declined. That may change if AI summaries expand, potentially reducing clicks even more.
Image Credits: Google
Image Credits: Google
