Google Mulls Charging for AI Search to Offset Lost Ad Revenue
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Google is considering charging for access to its new AI-powered search feature, a first for the company
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The move highlights the high costs of running AI systems vs. Google's traditional ad-based search revenue model
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AI search returns summarized results rather than links, reducing clicks on ads
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This could upend Google's business model which relies on users clicking on sponsored links
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Google faces a tension between maintaining search dominance and pushing AI capabilities amid rising competition