Published by NewsPR Today | July 2025
If you run a website with Google AdSense, you need to know about a new feature on Google. It’s that colourful box that now often appears at the very top of search results, where its AI generates a neat summary to answer your question directly. Google calls it “AI Overviews.”
And while it seems handy for users, it could be a real problem for your bank balance.
So, how exactly does this one feature threaten your AdSense income? Let’s be honest, it all comes down to clicks.
The AdSense Chain Reaction—And How AI Breaks It
For years, making money followed a simple chain reaction. A person searches on Google, sees your link, clicks on it, and lands on your website. Once there, they see the ads you host through AdSense, and you earn money from those ads. The more visitors, the more potential earnings. Your traffic is your business.
AI Overviews break that chain right at the most important link: the click.
Think about it. Why would someone click your link if Google has already spoon-fed them the answer? They get what they need and leave. This creates what people call a “zero-click search”—every AdSense user’s nightmare.
No click means no visitor. No visitor means no one sees your ads. And that means less money in your AdSense account. Simple as that. Your hard work in writing the article still exists—in fact, the AI probably used it to create its summary—but you get none of the rewards.
This Isn’t Just an AdSense Scare Story
Big publishers are already feeling the pressure. For example, MailOnline, one of the UK’s major news sites, reported that its Google traffic can drop by up to 50% when an AI Overview appears. That’s not a small dip—it’s a serious hit to their revenue.
If large media outlets are being affected, then smaller blogs or niche sites that depend on AdSense are even more vulnerable. In fact, these AI Overviews often use content created by these websites to generate summaries, yet they don’t send the same traffic back.
As a result, even though your article helped answer a user’s question, you may not get the click or the earnings. This breaks the chain that many AdSense publishers rely on: search → click → visit → ad view → revenue.
Therefore, many publishers are now pushing back. A large group from across Europe has filed legal complaints in both the UK and the EU. They claim that Google is using their content without permission and benefiting without fair compensation.
Specifically, they are asking for two key changes:
- A real opt-out option for AI summaries—without punishing the site in regular search results.
- A fair revenue-sharing model, since the AI is using their work to generate answers.
However, Google sees it differently. The company says it still sends a lot of traffic to websites, and that AI Overviews help users explore more. But for those watching their page views and AdSense earnings drop, that’s a tough sell.
What This Means for Your AdSense Strategy
If you rely on AdSense as a major source of income, this should be a big wake-up call. You can no longer assume that Google will send traffic your way, even if your content is excellent.
Therefore, it’s time to think beyond just ranking on search engines. Start building a direct relationship with your audience, so you’re not dependent on Google alone.
For instance:
- Create an email newsletter to reach readers directly.
- Grow your social media presence to stay visible.
- Diversify your income through affiliate links, product sales, or memberships.
In the end, this isn’t just a battle between big tech and publishers. It’s about the future of how information is shared—and who gets rewarded for creating it.
So, keep a close eye on how this situation develops. The decisions made by regulators could affect your earnings, your traffic, and your content strategy in the months ahead.
