Google blasts study showing AI overviews slash web traffic
In a month-long survey of 900 American adults and almost 69,000 Google searches, a US think tank called Pew Research Centre found users only clicked a link inside Google's AI summary result once in every 100 times it appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Australian
12 hours ago
- The Australian
Google Pixel 6a gets urgent update to prevent fire risk, overheating
An urgent update has been pushed to a range of Google phones due to the risk they could overheat and even cause fires. Product Safety Australia said incidents involving Google Pixel 6a devices have resulted in 'serious burn injuries'. A mandatory update has been pushed to a number of phones to reduce the risk, and devices only need to be updated rather than returned. A range of Google Pixel smartphones have been recalled over risks they could catch fire and burn users. Picture: Supplied The firmware update was released on 8 July, which included battery management features which mitigate the risk. Not all Pixel 6a devices are affected by the issue, and the new battery management system will be activated once affected devices reach 400 battery cycles. People whose phones are affected may be eligible for compensation from Google, and can check online to see if they can get a repair, cash payment or discount credit. The phones have been sold at major retailers across the country, including Telstra, Optus, JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks and Harvey Norman. The affected devices were sold between 16 June 2022 and 10 April 2025. Brendan Kearns Cadet Journalist Brendan Kearns is a cadet journalist with News Corp Australia. He has written for The Australian, the Herald Sun, the Geelong Advertiser, CHOICE, Cosmos, and The Citizen. He won Democracy's Watchdogs' Student Award for Investigative Journalism 2024 and hosted the third season of award-winning podcast Uncurated. He studied as Master of Journalism at The University of Melbourne, before that he worked as a video producer and disability worker. @brendandkearns Brendan Kearns
SBS Australia
16 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Google threatens to sue if YouTube is included in Australia's kids social media ban
Google has been warned threats to sue won't sway the potential late inclusion of YouTube in Australia's world-first social media ban for children. The tech giant wrote to Communications Minister Anika Wells declaring it was considering its legal position if its video sharing platform was included in the ban for children 16 and under. The letter, first reported by the Daily Telegraph, flagged the ban could be challenged on the grounds it restricts the implied constitutional freedom of political communication. Signals the Australian government was contemplating an "abrupt policy reversal" prompted Google to seek further clarity. "YouTube is a video sharing platform, not a social media service, that offers benefit and value to younger Australians," a YouTube spokesperson said. "We have written directly to the government, urging them to uphold the integrity of the legislative process and protect the age-appropriate experiences and safeguards we provide for young Australians." The social media ban is due to come into effect in December. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat were among platforms covered when legislation passed parliament. YouTube was exempted, in a move TikTok described as a "sweetheart deal". But e-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has recommended a rethink, citing research showing children were exposed to harmful content on YouTube more than any other platform. Children are exposed to harmful content on YouTube, e-safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant says. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch "The new law will only restrict children under the age of 16 from having their own accounts - not accessing content on YouTube or any other service through links from the school or in a 'logged-out' state," she told the National Press Club in June. "There is nothing in the legislation that prevents educators with their own accounts from continuing to incorporate school-approved educational content on YouTube or any other service just as they do now." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took a dim view of Google's attempt to muscle in on the decision-making process. "The minister will make these assessments ... independent of any these threats that are made by the social media companies," he told ABC TV on Sunday. "I say to them that social media has a social responsibility. A YouGov poll suggested widespread support for the ban. "There is no doubt that young people are being impacted adversely in their mental health by some of the engagement with social media and that is why the government has acted." The early findings of an age-verification trial found technologies could block young kids from social media platforms, but not without loopholes. Platforms will face penalties worth up to $50 million if caught not taking reasonable steps to prevent children 16 and under from creating accounts.
Sydney Morning Herald
20 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
YouTube threatens to sue if roped into social media ban
Google has been warned threats to sue won't sway the potential late inclusion of YouTube in Australia's world-first social media ban for children. The tech giant wrote to Communications Minister Anika Wells declaring it was considering its legal position if its video-sharing platform was included in the ban for children aged 16 and under. The letter flagged the ban could be challenged because it restricted the implied constitutional right to freedom of political communication. 'YouTube is a video-sharing platform, not a social media service, that offers benefit and value to younger Australians,' a YouTube spokesperson said. Loading 'We have written directly to the government, urging them to uphold the integrity of the legislative process and protect the age-appropriate experiences and safeguards we provide for young Australians.' The social media ban is due to come into effect in December. covered when legislation passed parliament. YouTube was exempted in a move TikTok described as a 'sweetheart deal'.
