Google's AI Overview Feature Hits Media Traffic: Some Tech Sites See Over 90% Drop in Search Visits

The media industry is facing a new impact from AI: instead of being replaced by AI, media workers are being 'digested' by it. Google's 'AI Overview' feature summarizes news content directly on search pages, allowing users to get information without clicking links—convenient for users, but a traffic disaster for media. A study by SEO firm Growtika shows that since the feature launched, Google search visits to 10 major U.S. tech media sites have dropped sharply. Data indicates these sites had about 112 million monthly visits at their peak, but by January 2026, this fell to less than 50 million. Some sites saw over 90% drop; Digital Trends went from 8.5 million visits in March 2024 to just over 260,000 in January 2026, a 97% decline. Google denied the conclusion, stating the study has a small sample size and ignores seasonal changes, adding that user preferences are shifting to podcasts, forums, and other forms.