AI-generated summaries are shaking up the media world. Tools like Google’s AI Overviews now provide users with direct answers above the search results, resulting in fewer people clicking on news links. For publishers who rely on that traffic to generate advertising revenue, this shift is hitting hard.
The fallout is measurable. Many sites have seen a sharp drop in traffic since AI summary features rolled out. An analysis revealed that a news outlet that had once ranked first on Google lost up to 79% of its traffic when its link appeared beneath an AI-generated summary. Statistics also show that few users click the citations embedded in these summaries. What’s worse, social media platforms are dealing a further blow to journalism by pulling younger audiences away from traditional news sources.
Some publishers are trying to claw back control. A growing number of major and mid-sized news outlets have begun to block AI crawlers, which are tools that scan, scrape, and digest online content. By cutting off access, publishers hope to stop AI from using their work without permission or compensation.
Photo: AdobeStock I 照片: AdobeStock
But not everyone is shutting AI out. Some publishers are choosing to work with AI firms, hoping that partnerships could lead to licensing deals or increased visibility. Others are exploring ways to optimize their content so they appear more prominently in AI-generated responses.
The shift marks a major turning point. Search engines are no longer simply guiding users; instead, they’re becoming the destination. Unless media companies can find a way to coexist with AI, they may find themselves cut out of the picture.
AI（編按：AI為「人工智慧」的縮寫）生成的摘要正在撼動媒體界。像 Google的AI摘要這類工具現在會在搜尋結果上方直接為用戶提供答案，導致比較少人會去點擊新聞連結。對於依賴那些流量來創造廣告收益的出版商來說，這樣的轉變帶來了沉重的打擊。
Photo: AdobeStock I 照片: AdobeStock
負面影響顯而易見。自AI摘要功能推出以來，許多網站的流量急遽下降。一項分析揭露：曾在Google排名第一的新聞機構，當其連結出現在AI生成摘要之下時，其流量下跌了高達79%。統計數字也顯示，幾乎沒有人會去點這些摘要中附上的引用來源。更糟的是，社群媒體平臺正進一步衝擊新聞業，因為它們讓更年輕的受眾脫離傳統新聞來源。
一些出版商正試圖奪回控制權。愈來愈多大型和中型新聞機構開始封鎖AI爬蟲一一會掃描、抓取並消化網路上內容的工具。藉由切斷存取權，出版商希望能阻止AI在未經許可或沒有報酬的狀況下使用他們的作品。
但並非所有人都將AI拒之門外。有些出版商選擇與AI公司合作，希望合夥可以促成授權交易或增加曝光度。其他出版商則在探索最佳化內容的方法，才能以更顯眼的方式出現在AI生成的回應中。
Photo: Ivy English I 照片：常春藤解析英語
這個變化是個重大的轉捩點。搜尋引擎不再只是單純引導使用者，它們反而漸漸成為了最終目的地。除非媒體企業能找到與AI共存的方法，否則就可能會被淘汰出局。
What Did You Learn?
1. How are AI and social media platforms affecting the media industry?
2. Why are some news companies blocking AI crawlers?
參考答案 :
1. They are causing a sharp drop in news sites’ traffic.
2. To stop AI from using their work without permission or compensation.
Words in Use
1. generate vt. 產生，創造
A good marketing strategy should generate both profit and long-term customer loyalty.
良好的行銷策略應同時帶來利潤與長期的顧客忠誠度。
2. publisher n. 出版商
Though the publisher rejected Ian’s manuscript, they encouraged him to revise and resubmit it.
雖然該出版社拒絕了伊恩的手稿，但鼓勵他修改並再次提交。
3. revenue n. 收益，營收
Seasonal tourism brings considerable revenue to the small coastal town each summer.
季節性觀光每年夏天為那座海濱小鎮帶來可觀的收益。
4. measurable a. 顯著的
Doris noticed a measurable improvement in her English speaking after months of practice.
經過數月的練習後，朵莉絲注意到自己的英文口說有明顯的進步。
5. outlet n. （出版∕電視∕廣播等的）媒體機構
Several international news outlets reported the incident within minutes of it happening.
數家國際新聞媒體機構在該事件發生後幾分鐘內就報導了此事。
Practical Phrases
1. roll out (新產品、服務等）推出
A faster internet service will roll out in rural areas next year.
更快的網路服務將於明年在鄉村地區推出。
2. deal a blow to. . . 打擊……，使……挫敗
Losing their star player dealt a blow to the team’s chances of winning the championship.
失去明星球員重挫了那支球隊奪冠的機會。
3. claw back. . . / claw. . . back
奪回∕設法挽回……
After the damaging rumors spread online, the mayor tried to claw back his reputation.
毀滅性的謠言在網路上散播之後，市長試圖挽回自己的聲譽。
4. shut. . . out / shut out. . . 把……排除在外
Companies that keep shutting out innovation may eventually fall behind their competitors.
那些一直拒絕創新的公司最終可能會落後競爭對手。
5. out of the picture 退出的；不必要；不重要
With the new manager in charge, the old policies are completely out of the picture.
隨著新經理上任，舊政策已完全被淘汰。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
★ Bilingual Story is a fictionalized account. 雙語故事部分內容純屬虛構。 “Any New Year’s resolutions?” he asked. Lena put her coffee down. “Yeah,” she said. “To get in shape.... round is a shape, right?” Mark chuckled. “I support this. Fully achievable. Low risk.” “Thanks,” she smiled and lovingly rubbed her round belly. “I like a resolution I can’t fail.” “Funny thing is, I was thinking about getting round too.” Lena nodded her head in approval, “You could put some meat on those skinny bones of yours.” Mark shook his head, “Not that kind of round. Wheel-of-Life round.” She raised an eyebrow.
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Skating is a popular recreational and competitive activity that involves sliding over surfaces using specially designed footwear. Its origins date back over 1,000 years to Northern Europe, where people first strapped animal bones to their feet to move across frozen lakes and rivers. In the 17th century, the Dutch transformed skating into a leisure activity. They also replaced bone blades with metal, leading to the creation of modern ice skates. Today, ice skating is enjoyed as a global sport and an exciting pastime by people of all ages. Figure skating is one of the best-known and most graceful forms of skating.
對話 Dialogue 清清：最近天氣越來越冷，感覺很容易感冒，要不要一起去吃薑母鴨或是羊肉爐？ Qīngqing: Zuìjìn tiānqì yuèláiyuè lěng, gǎnjué hěn róngyì gǎnmào, yào bú yào yìqǐ qù chī jiāngmǔyā huòshì yángròulú? 華華：最近我覺得有點累，想吃薑母鴨，可是又怕一下子吃太補會上火。 Huáhua: Zuìjìn wǒ juéde yǒudiǎn lèi, xiǎng chī jiāngmǔyā, kěshì yòu pà yíxiàzi chī tài bǔ huì shànghuǒ. 清清：那我們去喝香菇雞湯吧，不太容易上火，喝了也會很暖和。 Qīngqing: Nà wǒmen qù hē xiānggū jītāng ba, bú tài róngyì shànghuǒ, hē le yě huì hěn nuǎnhuo. 華華：聽起來不錯！你們家平常冬天都吃什麼進補？ Huáhua: Tīng qǐlái búcuò! Nǐmen jiā píngcháng dōngtiān dōu chī shénme jìnbǔ? 清清：我家都煮麻油雞，吃完整個人手腳都會熱起來。我也很久沒喝香菇雞湯了，正好可以去打打牙祭。 Qīngqing: Wǒ jiā dōu zhǔ máyóujī, chī wán zhěnggè rén shǒujiǎo dōu huì rè qǐlái. Wǒ yě hěn jiǔ méi hē xiānggū jītāng le, zhènghǎo kěyǐ qù dǎ dǎ yájì. 華華：可是我最近在減肥，會不會吃得太補，肉又長回來了？ Huáhua: Kěshì wǒ zuìjìn zài jiǎnféi, huì bú
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