New York: A recent study underscores Google’s ongoing struggle with ranking AI-generated, SEO-focused content higher than original material, despite concerted efforts to enhance search result quality.
As per media reports, AI-driven articles frequently surfaced prominently in Google News results earlier this year, prompting Google to announce significant algorithmic changes and stricter spam policies aimed at improving content integrity.
By the end of April, Google declared the implementation of these updates complete. Elizabeth Tucker, a Google product management director, highlighted in a blog post that these adjustments had reduced the presence of low-quality, unoriginal content in search results by 45%, surpassing their initial 40% target.
However, AI-generated spam content remains prevalent in Google News, according to Wired’s investigation. Lily Ray, senior director of SEO at Amsive, noted widespread issues, with some clients observing AI-generated replicas of their original content, albeit mangled by automated rewriting processes.
The investigation uncovered blogs heavily reliant on AI tools, including AI-generated images that exhibited noticeable flaws.
In a response from an Italian marketing agency overseeing one such blog, it was confirmed that they employed AI for content creation, asserting compliance with intellectual property guidelines, though their attribution practices were minimal, often limited to a single hyperlink.
When queried about specific websites, Google declined to comment but reiterated their stance against low-value, unoriginal content creation at scale. Google spokesperson Meghann Farnsworth emphasized global enforcement of their spam policies targeting such practices.
Google’s policies explicitly address the abusive scraping of content from other sources, though specifics regarding enforcement against the mentioned blog were not disclosed by Farnsworth.
For creators of original content, safeguarding their work remains a daunting task. Andrew Boyd from Forte Analytica highlighted industry concerns over abrupt traffic declines due to algorithmic shifts.
Also Read | Neurology Patients Find New Strength with Therapy Horses
The persistence of AI-generated content in search results continues to provoke industry discontent. Ray expressed frustration, noting that publishers investing in quality content often face uphill battles against AI-generated competitors.
Despite Google’s ongoing algorithmic refinements and policy enforcement, AI-generated content’s dominance poses challenges for original content creators, underscoring the need for robust measures to ensure high-quality content integrity in search results.
