Recent disclosures reveal that ChatGPT prompts surfaced in Google’s search index after the AI service sent user inputs to Google Search. OpenAI explained that the exposure occurred when users opted into a feature that made prompts public, and the firm later worked to remove the data from search results. Critics argue that the incident highlights a lack of privacy safeguards, especially since users did not actively share the content. The situation has sparked debate among SEO researchers and privacy advocates about OpenAI’s handling of user data and the broader implications for search‑engine integration. Read more →

Google Search executives say AI‑driven Overviews are increasing the number of searches and improving the quality of clicks to websites. The company argues that overall organic traffic remains stable year‑over‑year and that users are engaging more deeply with content after seeing AI summaries. Independent analysis from a research centre suggests the opposite, showing lower click‑through rates when AI Overviews are present. Cloudflare’s CEO also notes a sharp decline in referral traffic from Google over recent years. The contrasting viewpoints highlight uncertainty about AI’s impact on web traffic. Read more →