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New York Post
10 hours ago
- Business
- New York Post
Google hit with antitrust complaint in EU over AI summaries harming web traffic to news sites: report
Google's controversial AI-generated summaries — which have been blamed for crushing the traffic of US news sites — have drawn an antitrust complaint in the European Union from a group of independent publishers. The complaint, dated June 30 and submitted by the Independent Publishers Alliance, accuses Google of abusing its dominant position in online search by promoting its own AI-generated summaries over links to original content. The filing by the Independent Publishers Alliance, seen by Reuters, requests that the European Commission impose interim measures to prevent what it describes as 'irreparable harm' to publishers. 3 Google's artificial intelligence tools are being blamed for harming publishers' businesses. Koshiro K – 'Google's core search engine service is misusing web content for Google's AI Overviews in Google Search, which have caused, and continue to cause, significant harm to publishers, including news publishers in the form of traffic, readership and revenue loss,' the complaint alleges. The court action comes as damning data revealed that the AI Overviews have resulted in 37 of the top 50 US news domains suffering year-over-year traffic declines since its launch in May 2024, according to digital intelligence firm SimilarWeb. A report by SimilarWeb also found that the AI summaries have led to a significant increase in the frequency of 'zero clicks' to search queries. The percentage of web searches related to news that end without a click to a news site jumped to 69% in May 2025 from 56% for the same month last year, SimilarWeb found. A spokesperson for the Competition and Markets Authority, the EU's antitrust agency, confirmed to The Post that it received the complaint. 'Last week, we proposed to designate Google with strategic market status in search and search advertising. If designated, this would allow us to introduce targeted measured to address specific aspects of how Google operates search services in the UK,' the rep said. AI Overviews are summaries generated using Google's artificial intelligence models and are displayed at the top of general search results. The feature is available in more than 100 countries. Google began incorporating advertisements into AI Overviews this past May. The publishers allege that Google's practice of displaying its own summaries above hyperlinks disadvantages original content and is made worse by the lack of control publishers have over how their material is used. 3 A group of independent publishers in the European Union filed an antitrust complaint against Google over its AI Overviews technology. dts News Agency Germany/Shutterstock 'Publishers using Google Search do not have the option to opt out from their material being ingested for Google's AI large language model training and/or from being crawled for summaries, without losing their ability to appear in Google's general search results page,' the complaint alleges. The Movement for an Open Web, whose members include digital advertisers and publishers, and British nonprofit Foxglove Legal Community Interest Company are also signatories to the complaint. The three organizations are seeking regulatory intervention to address what they say is an urgent threat to competition and access to news. Foxglove co-executive director Rosa Curling said the consequences of AI Overviews for news publishers are severe. 'Independent news faces an existential threat: Google's AI Overviews,' Foxglove co-executive director Rosa Curling said. 'That's why with this complaint, Foxglove and our partners are urging the European Commission, along with other regulators around the world, to take a stand and allow independent journalism to opt out.' A Google spokesperson defended the AI Overviews feature and disputed the characterization of its impact on publishers. 3 The complaint submitted by the Independent Publishers Alliance accuses Google of abusing its dominant position in online search by promoting its own AI-generated summaries over links to original content. Google 'New AI experiences in Search enable people to ask even more questions, which creates new opportunities for content and businesses to be discovered,' the spokesperson told Reuters. Google added that the company sends billions of clicks to websites each day and that traffic fluctuations can be influenced by many factors. 'The reality is that sites can gain and lose traffic for a variety of reasons, including seasonal demand, interests of users, and regular algorithmic updates to Search,' the spokesperson said. The claims in the EU complaint echo a similar argument made in a lawsuit filed in the United States by an education technology company, which alleges that Google's AI Overviews are eroding demand for original content and damaging the competitive ability of publishers, resulting in declines in both traffic and subscriptions. Google has faced several antitrust investigations on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean in recent years. The tech giant is appealing a $4.7 billion fine imposed by the European Commission for allegedly abusing its dominance with the Android operating system. Last month, an advisor to the EU's top court recommended the fine be upheld. The European Commission is also continuing investigations into Google's conduct in digital advertising and search, with potential for further regulatory action. In the United States, a federal judge ruled in August 2024 that Google violated antitrust law by maintaining monopolies in general search and search advertising, citing exclusive deals such as those with Apple. A verdict after a trial on the remedy phase — which could include breaking up Google — is expected next month. In a separate ruling in April 2025, another judge found Google had illegally monopolized online advertising markets by controlling both the buy and sell sides of the ad exchange. With Post Wires
New York Post
a day ago
- Business
- New York Post
Google AI summaries increase frequency of ‘zero clicks' to search results, sinking traffic to news sites: report
Google's AI Overviews feature has led to a significant increase in the frequency of 'zero clicks' to search queries — drastically reducing traffic to news websites, according to a new report. Since the Big Tech giant rolled out its artificial intelligence tool in May 2024, the percentage of web searches related to news that end without a click to a news site jumped to 69% in May 2025 from 56% for the same month last year, according to the latest figures from digital intelligence firm SimilarWeb. The decrease in 'click-through rates' has resulted in overall organic traffic to news sites — which typically comes through Google's dominant search engine — sinking to under 1.7 billion visits in May 2025 from a peak of more than 2.3 billion in mid-2024, the SimilarWeb data shows. Advertisement 4 Google's AI Overviews feature is significantly reducing traffic to news websites thanks to the increase in the frequency of its 'no click-throughs' on search results, according to a report. Koshiro K – The numbers were first reported by TechCrunch. Earlier this week, SimilarWeb published data showing that 37 of the top 50 news domains suffered year-over-year traffic declines following the launch of AI Overviews. Advertisement When contacted about the latest SimilarWeb data, a Google spokesperson referred The Post to comments it provided about the plummeting web traffic of news sites. 'We've seen many inaccurate claims about traffic from Search, often based on speculative or incomplete information, questionable methodology, or data that predates AI Overviews,' the rep had said. The spokesperson added that 'new AI experiences in Search enable people to ask even more questions, which creates new opportunities for businesses and content to be discovered.' 4 OpenAI's ChatGPT has boosted referral traffic to news sites, but not enough to compensate for the loss caused by Google's AI Overviews. AP Advertisement Google faces the prospect of being broken up after a judge labeled the company a 'monopolist' in ruling that it violated federal antitrust laws to build a dominant hold over the online search market. A verdict on the remedy is expected next month. The surge in 'zero clicks' highlights how users are increasingly consuming news directly through AI-generated summaries, bypassing traditional publishers entirely. Landing high on Google's search page results and using traditional SEO strategies are no longer delivering the same value for news publishers, the SimilarWeb report said. Keep up with today's most important news Stay up on the very latest with Evening Update. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Advertisement 'Solutions to the news publishers' crisis are few and far between,' the report said. Even the rise of OpenAI's ChatGPT, which is becoming a more popular source of news content, has not compensated for the steep drop in traffic from Google, according to the SimilarWeb data. From January through May 2024, ChatGPT referrals to news sites stood at just under 1 million. That number jumped to more than 25 million in 2025. The report — titled 'AI is rapidly changing how people consume news' — also noted disparities in how different news outlets are faring under the new AI-driven referral ecosystem. Reuters has seen an 8.9% year-over-year increase in ChatGPT referral traffic, followed by the New York Post at 7.1% and Business Insider at 6.5%. Last year, The Post's parent company, News Corp, and OpenAI struck a landmark five-year, $250 million deal giving the Sam Altman-led startup access to current and archived content from the media giant's publications — including The Post, the Wall Street Journal, The Sun and The Times (UK). Topics like stocks, finance and sports account for the majority of ChatGPT's news-related prompts, the Similarweb report found. However, interest in subjects like politics, the economy and weather is also growing. Advertisement The Similarweb report suggested this trend may indicate a user shift from seeking 'reactive information' toward deeper, 'issue-driven engagement' via AI tools. 4 SimilarWeb found that 37 of the top 50 news domains, including CNN, suffered year-over-year traffic declines following the launch of AI Overviews last May. Getty Images According to SimilarWeb, usage of the ChatGPT app has more than doubled in the past six months. In response to pressure from the publishing sector, Google recently introduced a tool called Offerwall for publishers using Google Ad Manager. Advertisement The service allows publishers to test monetization options beyond traditional ad-driven models, such as offering micropayments or prompting users to subscribe to newsletters to access content. Google said Offerwall screens can also be customized by publishers. 4 Last year, News Corp, The Post's parent company, struck a landmark content-sharing deal with ChatGPT maker OpenAI. Christopher Sadowski Many outlets have begun experimenting with different forms of monetization, including more aggressive paywalls. Advertisement Still, the media industry has been hard-hit by layoffs. In a recent interview with The New York Times' 'Hard Fork' podcast, Altman acknowledged the growing economic pressure brought on by AI's rapid adoption. 'I do think there will be areas where some jobs go away, or maybe there will be some whole categories of jobs that go away,' Altman said. Advertisement 'And any job that goes away, even if it's good for society and the economy as a whole, is very painful — extremely painful — in that moment … there is going to be real pain here in many cases.' The Post has sought comment from OpenAI.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Top news sites suffer drastic drop in web traffic since Google added AI search — with some plunging 40%
Visits to major US news websites have plummeted since Google rolled out its artificial intelligence search feature last year – with some plunging 40%, according to troubling new data. Of the top 50 news domains, 37 suffered year-over-year traffic declines after the launch of Google's AI Overviews last May, according to SimilarWeb. The drastic dropoff comes despite headline-grabbing events that included the assassination attempt on Donald Trump last summer, his stunning election victory over Kamala Harris a few months later and the turmoil over the new president's tariff policies. 'The data absolutely shows the new AI products Google has announced are affecting news publishers' traffic,' Danielle Coffey, President and CEO of News/Media Alliance, told The Post on Tuesday. 3 Google's generative artificial intelligence functions continue to have a devastating impact on publishers, according to the latest data. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images 'On top of all the SEO changes that have decreased traffic recently in traditional search, this is certain to negatively impact our ability to invest in quality journalism,' added Coffey, whose nonprofit trade association represents more than 2,200 news organizations. Forbes and HuffPost were the hardest hit, each losing 40% of their traffic, while plunged 32% and fell 28%, according to SimilarWeb. The Post and sister publication Wall Street Journal suffered declines of 27% and 17%, respectively, the data showed. Fox fell 24%. Fox News parent Fox Corp. and The Post parent News Corp share common ownership. ComScore, which uses a different methodology from SimilarWeb to track traffic, found that NYPost Network — which includes and affiliated properties such as Decider and Page Six — drew 433 million page views in June 2024 before falling to 381 million for May 2025, a loss of 12%. 3 suffered one of the steepest drops, with traffic down 28% year-over-year to 311.7 million visits, according to Similarweb. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Meanwhile, — part of News Corp-owned Dow Jones — and Fox both posted slight increases over the same time frame, one of the few publications to gain traffic, according to ComScore. Left-leaning rivals the New York Times and The Washington Post dipped 0.7% and 6%, respectively, ComScore found. Publication that saw the biggest gains, according to SimilarWeb, included (+415%), (+96%) and (+77%). A Google spokesperson denied that AI push was to blame for the cratering traffic. 3 Google's AI model, Gemini is powering tools such as AI Mode, which negate the need for users to visit external sites. Gado via Getty Images 'More than any other company, Google prioritizes sending traffic to the web, and we continue to send billions of clicks to websites every day,' the rep told The Post on Tuesday. 'We've seen many inaccurate claims about traffic from Search, often based on speculative or incomplete information, questionable methodology, or data that predates AI Overviews. New AI experiences in Search enable people to ask even more questions, which creates new opportunities for businesses and content to be discovered.' The company added that there are known limitations to SimilarWeb's dataset since it only looks at desktop and mobile web, not app activity. Google's AI Overviews — automated summaries powered by its Gemini model — appear at the top of results pages and directly answer user queries, often preempting the need for users to go to the source of the information. Since the rollout of AI Overviews, many publishers have reported steep declines in both traffic and click-through rates (CTR). According to multiple studies, the average CTR for the top organic result on queries that trigger AI Overviews plummeted from 7.3% in March 2024 to just 2.6% by March 2025. Google also recently rolled out AI Mode — an advanced search experience that delivers detailed, conversational answers to complex queries. Despite previously stating that AI Overviews would not appear for 'hard news topics' due to concerns over freshness and factuality, an AIO box appeared atop search results for 'anne burrell death' shortly after the story broke. A recent Google document now states that AI Overviews will appear when they add value and the system has high confidence in the response, though efforts are being made to exclude sensitive or dangerous topics. The company claimed that overall visits to the web and traffic from organic search have increased year-over-year in aggregate, and that AI Overviews are designed to enhance the user experience by surfacing more links from a broader range of sources. Google added that publishers can experience traffic fluctuations for many reasons unrelated to AI — including seasonal demand, shifting user preferences and regular algorithm updates.
Time Business News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Business News
Discover Konachan – The Ultimate Anime Wallpaper Booru
Konachan anime wallpaper portal – Discover anime art with ease. If you're an anime fan in search of stunning wallpaper gems, Konachan stands out as a premier imageboard for free, high-quality anime and manga wallpapers. This platform has carved its place in the top ranks for searches like 'konachan,' 'nsfw wallpaper,' 'wallpaper booru,' and even niche keywords like 'Konachan chs.' (and its NSFW sibling is an anime-focused booru-style imageboard offering unlimited and unrestricted downloads of fan‑made and official wallpapers. It caters to a global audience looking for everything from clean art to more adult content. Konachan's popularity reflects in its global ranking—around #28 720—generating roughly 432000 daily pageviews and about 72000 unique visits each day . Konachan consistently ranks near the top for keywords like 'wallpaper booru' and 'nsfw wallpaper,' receiving high organic search traffic—around 29% of its clicks come from organic search, with 'konachan' itself fetching 2 700 monthly searches . For those searching 'konachan chs,' it's likely referring to a Chinese‑server subdomain, catering to Chinese‑language audiences and ranking at about 1 300 monthly search volume According to SimilarWeb data as of May 2025, attracts around 217,000 visits monthly, with visitors viewing an average of 8 pages per session and staying nearly 1.5 minutes. The audience is predominantly male (≈74%) and aged 18–24, with the top traffic sources being: 56% Direct visits 29% Organic search Remainder from video platforms like YouTube and Facebook Most traffic comes from China (~48%) and the U.S. (~9%), with considerable interest from Canada, Indonesia, and India. So, how does Konachan measure up against the bigger boorus? Site Monthly Visits Content Focus ~1.7M High‑quality anime wallpapers ~11.5M Largest hentai & anime collection ~14.6M Tag‑rich anime database Data unavailable Fan‑curated anime images ~3.1M Mixed anime/hentai uploads While larger in volume and tagging than Konachan, these sites aren't necessarily better for wallpapers specifically—Konachan remains a top choice due to its wallpaper‑centric collections, easy browsing, and frequent high‑res uploads. High‑Resolution Downloads : Users routinely report finding crisp wallpapers ideal for desktops and posters : Users routinely report finding crisp wallpapers ideal for desktops and posters Clean vs NSFW Channels : is safe‑for‑work; houses adult content. Both feature robust tagging for filterable browsing : is safe‑for‑work; houses adult content. Both feature robust tagging for filterable browsing Simplified Tagging and Search : With consistent tags (character names, series titles, themes, resolutions), it's effortless to locate specific wallpapers. : With consistent tags (character names, series titles, themes, resolutions), it's effortless to locate specific wallpapers. Frequent New Uploads: Artists regularly add fresh content, keeping the wallpaper stream updated. Konachan's tagging system enhances both user experience and SEO. Using descriptive keywords in titles, file names, alt text, and tags with search‑friendly labels (e.g., 'anime wallpaper 1920×1080,' character names, show titles) helps pages rank in image searches. Plus, reverse image tools like IQDB include Konachan in their crawl list alongside Danbooru and Gelbooru—boosting backlink traffic and discoverability Top‑ranked boorus use these strategies: Strong keyword focus: Target high‑volume terms like 'konachan,' 'nsfw wallpaper,' 'anime wallpaper booru' at Alt/text Metadata: Include keywords in alt tags and filenames. User Engagement: Encourage comments, favorites, and tags to increase dwell time and SEO signals. Backlinks & Referrals: Appear in engine aggregators and reverse‑image search indexes. Homepage feed : Glance at trending images; hover shows resolution. : Glance at trending images; hover shows resolution. Search bar : Type keywords like 'NSFW wallpaper,' 'Konachan chs,' or show titles. : Type keywords like 'NSFW wallpaper,' 'Konachan chs,' or show titles. Filter options : Sort by resolution (e.g., 4K, 1080p), safe/nsfw, and other tags. : Sort by resolution (e.g., 4K, 1080p), safe/nsfw, and other tags. Download : Full‑size image available via direct link—no login required. : Full‑size image available via direct link—no login required. Mobile users: Mobile‑optimized layout with lazy loading makes browsing lightweight. = Safe‑for‑work (SFW) only. = only. = includes adult NSFW wallpapers. Users can easily switch between the two, based on their browsing preference. A Chinese mirror, often accessed via 'Konachan chs,' also hosts content in Chinese and caters to that audience. Absolutely—Konachan ranks high due to its specialization in wallpapers, clean interface, and diverse content. For anime lovers seeking both mainstream and charm‑oriented wallpaper, it's a go‑to booru due to its: Focused keyword structure ('nsfw wallpaper,' 'wallpaper booru'). Regular uploads and user engagement. SEO‑friendly metadata, driving consistent organic traffic. Strong tagging system enabling precise image discovery. Konachan – ~21,000 searches/month – ~21,000 searches/month Konachan chs – ~1,300 searches/month – ~1,300 searches/month NSFW wallpaper – ~1,100 searches/month – ~1,100 searches/month Wallpaper booru – ~756 searches/month – ~756 searches/month Other related niche tags: character pairings (e.g., 'amatsuki jun x takashiro hiroko') with ~421 searches, similarweb. For fans of anime, cosplay, or high‑quality digital art, Konachan offers a streamlined, SEO‑optimized, and richly curated wallpaper archive. Its smart use of keywords, tagging, content filtering, and image‑friendly structure explains why it ranks highly for searches like 'konachan,' 'nsfw wallpaper,' and 'wallpaper booru.' Whether you're browsing the safe site, the NSFW version, or a Chinese mirror ('Konachan chs'), this portal remains a cornerstone of anime wallpaper discovery. By weaving in keyword phrases like 'nsfw wallpaper,' 'wallpaper booru,' and 'Konachan chs' alongside stats and SEO insights, this article is not only informative but primed for search visibility. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wix Acquires Base44 to Boost AI-Driven Intent-Based Software Development
Ltd. WIX recently acquired Base44, an innovative AI-powered platform that empowers users to build fully functional custom software solutions using natural language – no coding required. The buyout not only bolsters Wix's AI portfolio but also redefines the future of application technology landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Traditional development models are shifting to intent-driven software creation, an approach where users simply express what they want, and intelligent systems handle execution. This initiative, referred to as 'vibe coding,' is gaining strong traction in the market. As the demand rises for tools that transform ideas into reality using natural conversation and intuition instead of coding, Wix aims to make the digital space more open, creative and user-friendly than ever. Base44's core innovation lies in its fully automated, chat-based development environment. The platform allows users to build scalable, production-ready applications just by conversing with it. Its B2B traction with clients like eToro and SimilarWeb strengthens the platform's viability and real-world applicability. The acquisition by Wix is likely to augment Base44's reach, user adoption and setting up databases and managing authentication to handling infrastructure and deployment, Base44 streamlines the process of software integration of Base44 into the Wix AI ecosystem significantly expands the company's portfolio of intelligent creation tools. Wix has been gradually embedding AI across its platform, from AI website generators to intelligent design and content creation tools. With Base44, Wix positions itself as not only a website builder but a comprehensive digital creation platform. Ltd. price-consensus-chart | Ltd. Quote Under the terms of the deal, Wix acquired Base44 for an initial consideration of roughly $80 million, with additional earn-out payments extending through 2029 based on performance milestones. Wix expects to incur around $25 million in retention bonus payments for Base44 employees in 2025, supporting talent retention and product company expects an inconsequential contribution to 2025 bookings and revenues, highlighting the deal's long-term implications. These expenses will be excluded from non-GAAP and free cash flow metrics, helping investors better understand the company's core operating will retain its identity and continue operating as a distinct product and business unit within Wix. This will allow the Base44 team to maintain product authenticity and innovation while tapping into Wix's robust resources. Wix is doubling down on strategic AI investments across its platform, focusing on WIX Studio, commerce tools and generative AI. WIX Studio now has more than 2 million accounts, with 75% from new Partners, making it a top choice for agencies and professionals. The company is embedding AI assistants to boost efficiency and conversion rates. In May 2025, it launched the Model Context Protocol Server, enabling developers to build solutions using tools like Claude and Cursor. Wix has launched Wixel, a next-gen visual design platform that combines top AI models, a simple UI and advanced features. It lets anyone create high-quality photo and video content in just a few clicks, no design experience needed. Wixel supports Wix's mission to empower creators by removing barriers. Similar to its impact on website building in 2006, Wix now aims to reshape digital design. The company has also partnered with Microsoft to integrate Wixel's design tools into Microsoft recently announced the acquisition of Hour One, a pioneer in generative AI media creation. This move strengthens Wix's position at the forefront of AI-driven digital experiences, enhancing its capabilities in advanced web and visual design. Bringing this technology in-house allows the company to maintain greater control over front-end innovations, reduce third-party dependencies and manage costs more the ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, Wix has taken a cautious stance on its full-year outlook, especially for its Business Solutions unit. Commerce and GPV are more sensitive to consumer trends and economic shifts. While easing forex pressure offers some short-term relief, it doesn't offset larger risks. Though current fundamentals look stable, the environment remains fragile and could change quickly. WIX currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Shares of the company have declined 53.2% in the past year against the Computers - IT Services industry's growth of 53.3%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Some better-ranked stocks from the broader technology space are Juniper Networks, Inc. JNPR, Arista Networks, Inc. ANET and Ubiquiti Inc. UI. JNPR presently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while ANET and UI carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks is leveraging the 400-gig cycle to capture hyperscale switching opportunities inside the data center. The company is set to capitalize on the increasing demand for data center virtualization, cloud computing and mobile traffic packet/optical convergence. Juniper also introduced new features within the AI-driven enterprise portfolio that enable customers to simplify the rollout of their campus wired and wireless networks while bringing greater insight to network operators. In the last reported quarter, it delivered an earnings surprise of 4.88%.Arista delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 11.82% and has a long-term growth expectation of 14.81%. Arista currently serves five verticals, namely cloud titans (customers that deploy more than 1 million servers, cloud specialty providers, service providers, financial services and the rest of the enterprise. It supplies products to a prestigious set of customers, including Fortune 500 global companies in markets such as cloud titans, enterprises, financials and specialty cloud service effective management of its strong global network of more than 100 distributors and master resellers improved its visibility for future demand and inventory management techniques. In the last reported quarter, Ubiquiti delivered an earnings surprise of 33.3%. Its highly flexible global business model remains well-suited to adapt to the changing market dynamics to overcome challenges while maximizing growth. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Juniper Networks, Inc. (JNPR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Arista Networks, Inc. (ANET) : Free Stock Analysis Report Ltd. (WIX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Ubiquiti Inc. (UI) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
