Google to launch its AI-powered summaries in France, a dark cloud for the media

Google is set to introduce AI-generated summaries in France this summer, marking a significant shift in how users interact with search results. These summaries, known as “Aperçus IA” and part of Google's broader “Mode IA” initiative, will appear at the top of search results, offering users brief overviews of articles without requiring them to click through to the original content. The move has sparked concern among French media outlets, who fear a potential decline in traffic and revenue. The feature has already been rolled out in more than 120 countries and 11 languages since two years ago. Competitors such as Bing have also introduced similar functionality in France. According to a statement released by Google, the company is working to deploy these features but has not yet provided a specific launch date. However, local media outlet Ouest-France reported that Google informed publishers about the planned rollout during the summer. These AI-generated summaries are created using Google’s advanced language models, which extract key points from web pages and present them in a condensed format. Additionally, the “Mode IA” allows users to engage in conversational searches, akin to interactions with platforms like ChatGPT. While this could enhance user experience, it raises concerns for media organizations that rely heavily on referral traffic from search engines. French media companies are particularly worried about the impact of these changes. According to a study published by the Pew Research Center in July 2025, internet users are twice as likely to skip clicking on links when presented with AI-generated summaries. One regional press executive, speaking anonymously to AFP, expressed alarm, noting that the introduction of “Aperçus IA” could lead to a 30% drop in traffic coming from Google. This new development may prompt negotiations between Google and French media outlets regarding compensation for their content. The sector is currently struggling with declining revenues from subscriptions and advertising, along with widespread job cuts across major publishing groups such as Prisma Media, Centre France, and Ebra. In France, Google has already signed agreements with 450 editors and press agencies under neighboring rights, allowing newspapers, magazines, and press agencies to receive payment when their content is used by digital giants, in accordance with a European directive from 2019. According to a source close to the matter, Google’s letter to publishers indicates that AI-generated summaries would also qualify for compensation under neighboring rights. Marc Feuillée, president of Apig—a body representing nearly 300 French daily newspapers—and general director of the Figaro Group, stated that discussions and collective agreements should precede the deployment of these new features, calling it an “enormous challenge.” Louis Dreyfus, chairman of the Le Monde Group, expressed regret that Google had not taken advantage of the remaining weeks before the rollout to negotiate with publishers in full compliance with the law, as other major players in AI have done. Encarna Marquez, head of AI at France Télévisions, highlighted additional concerns beyond financial compensation. She emphasized the importance of maintaining a connection with audiences and raised questions about targeting demographics, data usage, and content responsibility. According to the same source, publishers will have the option to refuse having their content included in “Aperçus IA” and “Mode IA,” although traditional search results will remain unaffected. The rise of generative AI has already brought profound economic changes to the media industry. Some companies have formed partnerships with AI firms, while others accuse these entities of exploiting their intellectual property. Earlier this month, a media executive accused certain AI companies of brazenly stealing the intellectual property of information media, highlighting ongoing tensions between tech giants and traditional publishers. As Google prepares to roll out its latest features, the outcome of these discussions will be crucial in determining whether the balance between innovation and fair compensation can be maintained.