Google claims search engine could 'break' if stricter controls are put on new technology: 'Requires us all to trust that [they won't] be evil'

"United Kingdom competition officials had put forward rules giving publishers control over how their work appears in tools such as AI Overviews. Google warned that overly strict requirements could harm how its search features function. Google contends that AI has powered its search results for years and historically linked users with useful information. Separating AI from conventional search tools, the company said, would make it harder for people to get high-quality answers to their questions."

"For users, this fight will shape how they find information online going forward. Publishers fear that AI-generated summaries deliver answers without directing you to original sources, starving websites of the traffic that supports journalism and creative work. The growth of AI also carries environmental weight. Training and running these systems demand tons of electricity and water to cool data centers. While AI can help optimize clean energy grids and reduce waste in some industries, its growing footprint drives up energy demand."

Google will let websites exclude its material from AI-powered search tools, reflecting regulatory pressure over use of web content. United Kingdom competition officials proposed rules to give publishers control over how their work appears in AI Overviews, while Google warned that strict separation of AI and conventional search could degrade search quality. Publishers fear AI-generated summaries will reduce referrals and revenue by answering users without linking to original sources. AI growth also raises environmental concerns because training and operating models demands substantial electricity and water to cool data centers, increasing energy demand and costs. Cloudflare’s CEO argued the U.K. proposal does not sufficiently force separation to ensure competition.

Read at The Cool Down