Google's AI Contribution Pilot Aims to Reward Publishers With Variable Payments

Google is conducting an AI contribution pilot program that rewards about 100 digital publishers for contributing to its AI answers. The payments vary widely, ranging from less than $1,000 to over $1 million per year, with some small and mid-sized sites earning a tenth of 1% of their advertising revenue.

The pilot covers three features: AI Overviews, AI Mode, and Gemini. Publishers are paid based on how much each source contributes to an answer, although the exact calculation is unclear. According to The Information, several larger publishers have declined to join the program, hoping that staying out will pressure Google into offering better terms.

Publishers in the pilot have reported difficulty tracking their earnings, which appear monthly in the Google Search Console. Some sites covering niche subjects with strong followings, such as anime and gaming, tend to earn more than others.