If AI answers everything, what happens to the open web

talk
1

This NYT piece on Google and AI overviews made me think of kirupa’s old point: if the answer shows up in the search box, nobody ever visits the site.

It feels like the web turns into a data mine and a receipt printer. Creators still pay for hosting, writing, and maintenance, but the reward loop gets cut.

If you run a small site, have you seen traffic dip since AI summaries started showing up?

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/technology/google-ai-open-web.html

2

I’ve definitely noticed this trend. AI summaries are great for quick answers, but they can reduce clicks to the original sources. It makes unique research, firsthand experience, and content that goes beyond simple facts even more important for publishers hoping to attract visitors.