Google Tests AI News Overviews: Will Users Trust the Content?

Google is expanding its experimentation with AI in news delivery, rolling out a pilot program that brings AI-powered article overviews to select publications’ Google News pages. 

Participating outlets include major international publishers such as Der Spiegel, El País, Folha, Infobae, Kompas, The Guardian, The Times of India, The Washington Examiner, and The Washington Post, all of whom have agreed to test how AI might surface more context for readers before they click through to a full story (Yahoo). As part of this commercial partnership, Google says the goal is to explore how AI can create more engaged audiences, reflecting broader shifts in how people consume information and the growing desire for quick, contextual summaries online.

The new AI overviews will appear only on the Google News pages of these participating outlets, not across Google News or Search at large, keeping the pilot contained while publishers evaluate the impact on traffic. Since AI-generated summaries may reduce click-through rates, Google is offering direct compensation to offset potential declines. This financial arrangement suggests an acknowledgment of the delicate balance between technological innovation and the sustainability of journalism, as publishers weigh the benefits of reach against the risks of losing reader visits (Computing). Google also emphasizes transparency, noting that all AI-generated elements will include attribution and direct links to the underlying reporting.

The pilot builds on previous steps Google has taken to infuse AI into news aggregation. In July, the company added AI summaries to Discover, its main news feed within the Google Search app, replacing single publisher headlines with multi-source summaries paired with outlet logos (TechCrunch). Google is also experimenting with AI-generated audio briefings for users who prefer to listen rather than read the news, signaling its ambition to diversify formats and meet audience preferences across devices and content styles.

Beyond the News platform, Google is deepening partnerships with organizations such as Estadão, Antara, Yonhap, and The Associated Press to improve real-time coverage within the Gemini app, reinforcing its broader strategy of integrating up-to-date reporting into its AI systems (TechCrunch). In parallel, the company is rolling out its Preferred Sources feature globally. This tool, first launched in the US and India, allows users to choose favored news sites and blogs that get prioritized placement in the Top Stories section of search results. English-language users worldwide will see the feature in the coming days, with expansion to all supported languages early next year.

Google also plans to highlight links from users’ existing news subscriptions in a dedicated Gemini carousel, which will later incorporate AI Overviews and AI Mode. These additions aim to make it easier for people to access reporting they value, though they raise questions about reinforcing ideological bubbles, since tools that prioritize familiar outlets may limit exposure to diverse perspectives (Yahoo). At the same time, Google is increasing inline links in AI Mode and adding “contextual introductions” that explain why embedded links may be useful, an effort to provide additional clarity and context.

The pilot arrives as regulatory scrutiny around AI intensifies. The European Commission has launched an antitrust investigation into Google’s use of online content to train and power its AI products, including AI Overviews and AI Mode. Regulators are examining whether these tools rely on publisher content in ways that limit publishers’ ability to decline participation without risking reduced visibility in Search (Computing). This adds a complex backdrop to Google’s latest moves as the company attempts to innovate while navigating global concerns about fairness, attribution, and competition.

This article was written by the Covertly.AI team. Covertly.AI is a secure, anonymous AI chat that protects your privacy. Connect to advanced AI models without tracking, logging, or exposure of your data. Whether you’re an individual who values privacy or a business seeking enterprise-grade data protection, Covertly.AI helps you stay secure and anonymous when using AI. With Covertly.AI, you get seamless access to all popular large language models - without compromising your identity or data privacy.

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Works Cited

“Google Is Testing AI-Powered Article Overviews on Select Publications’ Google News Pages.” TechCrunch, 10 Dec. 2025, https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/10/google-is-testing-ai-powered-article-overviews-on-select-publications-google-news-pages/.

“Google Is Testing AI-Powered Article Overviews on Select Publications’ Google News Pages.” Yahoo Tech, 10 Dec. 2025, https://tech.yahoo.com/ai/gemini/articles/google-testing-ai-powered-article-170000481.html.

“Google Launches Pilot of AI-Powered Article Overviews on Select News.” Computing, https://www.computing.co.uk/news/2025/google-ai-overview-pilot.

Myrick, Andrew. “Google Just Changed Forever.” Android Central, 19 Apr. 2024, https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software/google-reorg-changes-everything.