Part 4/9:
One of the most alarming consequences highlighted by critics is the devastating impact these AI search features could have on independent websites—many of which have existed for over a decade. Google's recent "Helpful Content Update" or "Human Content" update has already led to many small and niche websites being deindexed or losing significant traffic overnight. This decimation is reportedly ongoing, with many content creators and site owners feeling the blow of a rapidly shrinking visibility.
Websites that once thrived on organic search traffic are now being sidelined in favor of AI snippets that do not link back to their sources. As a result, making a living or maintaining an online presence has become increasingly difficult for small publishers, bloggers, and niche content sites.