Google will have to answer to Brazilian journalists regarding its use of AI.

O Google you will have to explain to Administrative Council for Economic Defense like their summaries of artificial intelligence, the so-called AI Overviews, impacting Brazilian journalism, following the opening of an unprecedented investigation into possible misuse of content e audience retention within searchAt the heart of the debate is how this tool works and why it can reduce traffic to news websites by delivering pre-prepared answers to the user, a topic you will understand better below.

Read also what is artificial intelligence, Google I/O 2025 e best AI tools.

How do Google's AI Overviews work?

Os AI Overviews do Google These are summaries generated by artificial intelligence that appear at the top of the search results page, with the goal of directly answering the user's question without them needing to click on links. This functionality uses advanced language models, such as Gemini:The goal is to synthesize information from multiple sources available on the web and present it in a continuous, organized, and quick-to-read text format. Essentially, the search engine ceases to act merely as an intermediary and begins to offer a ready-made answer within its own interface.

The way these summaries work is based on interpreting search intent. When a user types something like "What is sustainable development?"The system identifies that it is an informational search and generates an explanatory paragraph based on different indexed content. AI Overview It can provide a general definition, examples, and even historical context, often accompanied by smaller links to the sources used. This process occurs in real time, combining techniques of natural language processing with already established search engine ranking systems.

In simpler searches, the behavior is even more evident. When searching "How to make fluffy rice"For example, the AI Overview It can present a straightforward step-by-step guide with measurements, preparation time, and tips, summarizing content from culinary websites. Instead of just listing recipe links, Google delivers a nearly complete answer right at the top of the page. This type of result reduces the need for additional navigation, as the user finds the essential information without leaving the search.

Another common example appears in comparative or decision research, such as "Which is better, iPhone or Android?"In this case, the AI-generated summary tends to organize the main points of each option, such as operating system, average price, and app ecosystem, offering a balanced overview. The content is structured to facilitate quick reading, often in bullet points or small blocks of text, simulating an automated curation from different sources.

Thus, this model reinforces a structural change in online search, in which the attention retention It happens within the platform itself, since the contextualized response is displayed even before the traditional links, altering the dynamics of accessing the source websites.

Questions raised by CADE

The decision of the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (WHERE) to open an administrative process against the Google This marks a significant step forward in the debate on digital competition e use of journalistic content by artificial intelligenceThe agency wants to understand whether the company, in implementing the AI Overviews, it began to operate beyond the role of intermediary, assuming a position of appropriation of value Regarding content produced by third parties, especially media outlets.

One of the main points raised by CADE is the so-called "exploitative abuse of dominant position"This is a concept in competition law that applies when a dominant company extracts disproportionate advantages from dependent partners. In this case, the investigation seeks to assess whether Google is using journalistic content to feed its AI summaries without providing a license. fair economic compensation, going beyond traditional traffic redirection.

This debate gains momentum with the phenomenon of zero clickThis occurs when the user finds the answer directly in the search engine and does not access the original website. websites, portals and blogsThis means a possible drop in audience, clicks and advertising revenueA technology portal like showmetechFor example, a website might produce a complete article about a new smartphone, but display its summarized information at the top of the search results, reducing the need for the reader to visit the original page.

In addition to the loss of traffic, the CADE also investigates attention retention within the platformWhen a user remains within the search engine environment consuming synthesized content, Google concentrates not only the audience but also behavioral data and monetization opportunities. This can generate an economic asymmetry, since media outlets bear the costs of journalistic production, while the platform captures a significant portion of the value generated.

“In the case under examination, the exploitative dimension can be perceived when the platform unilaterally expands the economic uses of journalistic content, internalizes part of its informational and advertising value within its own interface, controls the way in which payment is returned to publishers, and converts dependence on audience access into an asymmetrical commercial relationship. Within this framework, the absence of direct monetary payment does not, in itself, eliminate competitive concerns.”

Dissenting opinion of CADE Councilor, Camila Cabral Pires Alves.

Another key point is the difference between the traditional ones. snippets and the AI OverviewsWhile snippets display short clips to encourage clicks, AI summaries can deliver a virtually complete answer. CADE wants to understand if this change represents a inflection in the dynamics of the search, with the potential to reduce the relevance of links and directly affect the sustainability of content producers.

“There is an element of economic continuity between snippets and AI Overviews. Both are part of a dynamic whereby the search engine ceases to operate merely as a bridge between the user and the source website, and also begins to reorganize, retain, and re-present information produced by third parties within the platform itself. This continuity, however, does not eliminate relevant differences between the functionalities. Scraping, snippets, and generative responses are not the same, nor can they be treated as equivalent expressions of the same practice. Bostoen's (2021) reference is useful precisely because it allows us to understand this trajectory without reducing distinct phenomena to a single analytical category.”

Dissenting opinion of CADE Councilor, Camila Cabral Pires Alves.

The investigation also aims to analyze internal data from Google, including Testing, usage metrics, and impact on user behavior.The goal is to avoid presenting only favorable excerpts and to ensure a broader view of effects such as click-through rate, time spent on the site, and changes in navigation. This step is crucial for measuring, with greater precision, whether there is... economic value shift From journalism to the platform.

Finally, the CADE seeks to understand how this dynamic affects the digital information market structureThe concern is not limited to the drop in access, but also involves the possible growing dependence of vehicles on platforms...reduced economic autonomy and weakened competition. The result of this process could pave the way for new rules on... Compensation for journalistic content and redefine the relationship between Big Tech companies and information producers in Brazil.

The future of Brazilian journalism

The movement of the Administrative Council for Economic Defense This happens at a time when Brazilian journalism itself is already testing different approaches to deal with... artificial intelligenceOne example is the agreement signed between the The State of S. Paul and Googlewhich provides for payment for the use of news reports in training and in responses to Gemini:This model points to a possible solution based on content licensingin which vehicles are directly compensated for the use of their data in AI systems.

On the other hand, there are initiatives that follow the judicial route. Folha de S. Paulo decided to sue OpenAI, responsible for ChatGPT, under the allegation of misuse of journalistic content and paywall violations. This type of action demonstrates that part of the sector understands that the dispute needs to be resolved in court, seeking indemnities.

The decision of the Administrative Council for Economic Defense It can function as a third, more structural approach when investigating whether there is... competitive imbalance in the functioning of tools such as AI OverviewsUnlike one-off agreements or isolated actions, a potential decision by the body could establish parameters for the entire market, affecting not only large newspapers, but also smaller portals, blogs, and independent media outlets that rely on traffic from search engines.

This scenario suggests that the future of Brazilian journalism may be defined by a combination of these strategies. On one hand, business partnerships like that of The State of S. Paul tend to expand; on the other hand, legal disputes such as that of FSP They can push for clearer rules. In the midst of this, the actions of Administrative Council for Economic Defense It has the potential to consolidate a new balance, in which the use of journalistic content by AI ceases to be a grey area and begins to operate under... more transparent criteria for value, competition and remuneration.

What is your opinion on this case involving the CADE against Google? Tell us in the comments below!

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Sources: gov e CADE.

reviewed by Luis Antonio Costa in 24 / 04 / 26