Google is testing AI article overviews: What to expect

Google AI Overviews

Google has begun testing AI-powered article overviews on the Google News pages of select publishers, introducing a new layer of context designed to give readers a clearer snapshot of stories before they click through. The pilot is part of a wider commercial partnership that aims to study how AI can strengthen audience engagement while compensating publishers for potential traffic loss.

Participating outlets include Der Spiegel, El País, Folha, Infobae, Kompas, The Guardian, The Times of India, The Washington Examiner and The Washington Post, among others. These AI summaries will appear only on the dedicated Google News pages of partner publications and will not surface elsewhere in Google News or Search.

The idea is straightforward: users see an AI-generated overview that cites the publication’s reporting and provides near-instant context. Although this could reduce click-through rates, Google is paying publishers directly under the terms of the programme. Google says its goal is not to replace visits but to create better-informed, more engaged readers.

This pilot follows Google’s earlier rollout of AI summaries in Discover, where users now see multiple source logos and a short AI summary instead of a single headline. Google is also experimenting with audio news briefings for users who prefer listening to the news.

The company says these features will include clear attribution, links to original reporting and partnerships with organisations such as Estadão, Antara, Yonhap and the Associated Press to improve real-time results within the Gemini app.

Alongside the pilot, Google is expanding its Preferred Sources feature globally. Previously available in the US and India, the tool allows users to choose favoured news outlets that will appear more prominently in Top Stories. English-language users worldwide will see the feature in the coming days, with all supported languages to follow early next year. Google will also highlight links from users’ existing news subscriptions through a dedicated carousel in the Gemini app, with AI Overviews and AI Mode integration coming later.

However, the increased personalisation carries an obvious risk: tighter information bubbles. While Preferred Sources and AI-curated summaries make it easier to access familiar publications, they may narrow exposure to alternative viewpoints unless users consciously diversify their feeds.

Google says it will continue refining these features as news consumption habits evolve, working closely with a broad range of publishers in the process.