AI search tools that summarize information from across the web could replace traditional search engines, potentially disrupting the digital economy. According to an article by Benjamin Brooks, a fellow at the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard, AI search poses a threat to content creators by diverting web traffic away from the original sources. Brooks argues that while existing copyright law is unlikely to resolve this issue, governments may step in with new regulations, such as mandatory bargaining between platforms and publishers, which could favor only a select few and hinder the free flow of information.
Brooks suggests that the AI industry should proactively invest in frameworks that fairly reward creators of all kinds for sharing valuable content. He believes that commercial AI search platforms should find ways to attribute the value generated by user engagement to the original content creators and share it back with them at scale. Brooks warns that if the AI industry fails to address this issue, governments may impose their own vision of shared value, which could have unintended consequences for the digital economy.