tech

Google AI summaries are ruining the livelihoods of recipe writers: ‘It’s an extinction event’

AI Mode is mangling recipes by merging instructions from multiple creators – and causing them huge dips in ad traffic

Google AI summaries are ruining the livelihoods of recipe writers: ‘It’s an extinction event’

TL;DR

  • Google's AI Mode generates recipes by synthesizing elements from multiple sources, sometimes resulting in nonsensical or inaccurate combinations.
  • Food bloggers' original recipes, often not copyrightable, are being repurposed by AI without attribution, appearing in AI-generated cookbooks and websites.
  • The proliferation of AI-generated recipes threatens the livelihood of food bloggers who rely on ad revenue from their original content.
  • Some bloggers have experienced significant traffic loss, while others maintain stability by focusing on community building over search engine optimization.
  • Legal recourse for bloggers is limited due to recipes generally not being copyrightable.
  • While AI content is increasingly present, surveys suggest some users find it less trustworthy than human-created content.
  • Potential solutions like subscription models or a return to cookbooks are discussed, but face challenges.
  • AI bots are also reportedly trained on copyrighted material from published books, leading to further concerns about content theft.