Google is paying websites for content used in AI Overviews, AI Mode and Gemini. According to The Information, about 100 publishers are in the invite-only AI contribution pilot; one early participant earns over $1M a year while small sites get under $1,000 over several months.
How the pilot works
- Invite-only, about 100 publishers, running for under a year.
- Payouts appear as a monthly line in Search Console.
- Google does not disclose how contribution is calculated.
How much Google pays
Payouts in Google's AI contribution pilot (chart labels in Russian)
Over $1M/year for one early participant, $50–60K for a later one, under $1K over months for small sites — sometimes under 0.1% of their ad revenue.
What it means for SEO
Value shifts from rankings alone to being cited by AI answers. Standard SEO — unique facts, clear answers, fresh data, structure — still applies; Google requires no special AI markup.
FAQ
Does Google pay websites for AI Overviews?
Only in an invite-only pilot with about 100 publishers.
Can I apply?
No, Google invites participants.
Sources: The Information, Relevant Audience, tbreak.