Google AI Summaries Criticized for Impact on Recipe Writers

Google's AI Mode search capability has faced criticism for its impact on recipe writers since its rollout in March 2023. The AI-generated recipes, often a mishmash of various creators' works, have led to confusion among users.

One notable incident involved the AI suggesting cooking with non-toxic glue after misidentifying a satirical site. Many recipe bloggers, who rely on ad revenue from their free content, have seen their work appear in AI-generated formats without proper attribution, causing a significant decline in their traffic and income.

Carrie Forrest, a food blogger, reported an 80% decrease in her site traffic over the past two years. While some bloggers, like Jim Delmage and Karen Tedesco, have managed to keep their numbers steady by focusing on building a loyal audience, they worry about the long-term effects of AI on the industry.

Matt Rodbard, founder of Taste, is pessimistic, calling the situation an 'extinction event' for food blogs. Others, like Adam Gallagher, noticed that while their site visibility increased, actual visits declined, indicating a preference for AI-generated content.

A survey found that as users engage more with AI, they become less trusting of AI-generated content, with nearly half rating it less trustworthy than human-made content. Some bloggers are considering subscription models to survive, but many fear losing their audience and income.

The trend of reverting to traditional cookbooks is emerging, as they offer a trusted source of tested recipes. However, AI bots are also taking material from published cookbooks, complicating matters further.

As the situation evolves, the future of recipe blogging remains uncertain, with creators caught between adapting to AI and preserving the integrity of their work.