TECH NEWS – AI is turning search on its head, fundamentally changing how we find information online and threatening the traffic and revenue of countless websites.

As companies accelerate their progress in artificial intelligence, the technology is rapidly integrating into daily life and reshaping the entire online economy. Traditional business models are fading, and sites that have long depended on Google are finding it increasingly difficult to attract visitors as organizations equipped with AI tools surge ahead.

The AI frenzy is here to stay. Already, the internet is experiencing seismic changes that could disrupt millions of businesses and jobs. In the past, companies relied heavily on Google Search to funnel users to their websites. Now, with tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, users are turning to these platforms for answers, bypassing traditional links and website visits entirely.

Barron’s points out that Google Search is slowly losing relevance as more people rely on AI tools or benefit from “AI overviews”—summaries embedded directly in search results—without ever clicking on a link. Many websites that once thrived on Google traffic, including travel, informational, and news sites, are feeling the pain. Declining traffic means shrinking revenues and, in some cases, layoffs for staff.

This shift is crucial because it’s forcing companies to overhaul their business strategies—adopting new AI-powered tools or putting their content behind paywalls as AI becomes the new front door of the internet. Google itself may weather the storm, thanks to its own heavy investments in AI, but sites dependent on Google’s ecosystem are bearing the brunt of these changes.

With the digital landscape evolving at breakneck speed, companies facing dwindling audiences must pivot quickly to survive—or risk vanishing altogether.

Source: WCCFTech, Barron’s