You ask Google a question. Its AI answers using information from a publisher's article, so you may never visit that publisher's website. The publisher did the work but can lose the reader—and the ad money. Two companies sued Google over this. A judge just threw out both cases.

Why did they expect Google to send them readers? For years, they let Google read their pages hoping search results would send visitors back. Those visits help earn money from ads and subscriptions.

Rolling Stone's owner and education company Chegg argued that Google was using its power in search to force them to supply content for free, while its AI answers could take away those visits.

So why did they lose? One key reason: hoping Google will send you readers doesn't establish an agreement that it must. The judge also treated the AI answers as part of search, which undermined another argument in the cases.

He acknowledged the publishers' concerns but said Congress would need to address them. The publishers can appeal. For now, these lawsuits haven't secured payment or a promise of visitors.
