Google Mulling Paid Subscription for AI-Powered Search
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Google may start charging for AI-powered search results, representing first time it has charged for core search product
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Plan would be to keep standard search free, but offer paid subscription for AI search powered by models like Gemini
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AI search could cost 10x more than standard search, so ads may not fully cover costs
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Unclear if there's enough demand for AI search given limited uptake so far
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Google also grappling with flood of AI-generated spam in search results it's trying to limit