The Gauntlet is Thrown
Recent developments in the tech world have seen top websites like The New York Times, CNN, and others take a bold stance against Google’s Alphabet Inc. by restricting the tech giant from using their content for AI model training. This move is essentially a counterpunch to the escalating threat AI models pose to the conventional web traffic paradigm.
A New Sheriff in Town: Google-Extended
What’s the Buzz? A novel tool dubbed Google-Extended has emerged, allowing website owners to block Google from utilizing their content for AI training purposes. Reports indicate that roughly 10% of the top 1,000 websites have already adopted this tool, as highlighted in a recent article by Business Insider.
Heavy Hitters Join the Fray
Among the notable entrants in this conflict is The New York Times, embroiled in an AI copyright dispute with OpenAI. The publication has not only implemented the Google-Extended blocker but has also restricted OpenAI’s access to its content, signaling a significant shift in tech dynamics.
Other prominent players like CNN, BBC, Yelp, and Business Insider have also activated the Google-Extended tool, solidifying their stance against Google’s AI training.
The Numbers Game
Despite this standoff, statistics show that the adoption of Google-Extended lags behind other AI training data blockers. Notably, OpenAI’s GPTBot boasts usage on around 32% of the top 1,000 websites, overshadowing Google-Extended.
Jonathan Gillham, CEO of Originality.ai, shed light on the situation, attributing the lower adoption of Google-Extended to the potential risk websites face of being excluded from AI-generated results if they bar Google’s access to their data.
The Underlying Significance
Why It’s Relevant: This resistance from leading websites reflects growing concerns over the influence of AI models on traditional web traffic distribution dynamics.
Last December, The Atlantic raised red flags over Google’s AI-enhanced search possibly providing direct answers to user queries, potentially diminishing the need for users to visit external sites. This shift could spell a substantial decline in traffic for publishers heavily reliant on Google for a significant portion of their web traffic.
Furthermore, the ongoing AI copyright clash between The New York Times and OpenAI is indicative of a broader conflict within the AI sector. The tension has recently escalated, with Elon Musk leveling accusations against OpenAI, questioning the company’s data acquisition methods for its AI model, Sora.
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