For example - why would content providers allow Google/OpenAi/etc to crawl their data if no traffic is passed on.

Not only that, but can you imagine a new future where they train the "ai overview" with ads. For example, if you search "is Carlon the best for gang boxes or should I go with Cantex?" And if ABB/Carlon decide to pay Google - the answer can easily be:

Yes, many users in Reddit complain about Cantex... for these reasons.... To summarize, it makes sense to purchase Carlon boxes from your Home Depot in Sunnyvale.

Now, I don't think this is happening right now, but "AI Overview" already has a massive promotional feeling towards Carlon boxes (I was searching similar questions this morning).

As a content owner/creator, it definitely sucks. It's a no win situation if you aren't big enough to 'license' your content to the AI bots.

Add -ai at the end of prevent AI results from even showing up. It's not a fix but at least prevents one annoyance.

ie: "why is an avocado green -ai"

just to be the person ...

> AI Mode feels cleaner and more useful because it skips the clutter Google’s own algorithm helped create.

I dont think this one can be blamed solely on google. SEO has been gaming pure "best results" search algo for decades. Clickbait BS headlines, listicles and all sorts have made it harder and harder to produce what the searching person desires. Answers / Results.

Personally, much to my own annoyance, I find myself reading to LLM's for an answer more and more when the alternative is sifting through pages and pages of low quality "articles" with a personal bio & life history above the fold before the answer I want to find.

(edit) typo