Jeff Davis | Go back to current news

Posted 12/20/2025

Google’s new AI Mode for search is increasingly generating its own recipe summaries by blending instructions from multiple food blogs into simplified, merged outputs that often lack context, accuracy, and nuance. Bloggers say these AI-generated results—sometimes riddled with errors and unattributed to their sources—are siphoning off traffic and ad revenue that once sustained their sites.

Because recipes themselves aren’t protected by copyright, creators have limited legal options to stop AI tools from copying and remixing their work. Many bloggers depend on free access supported by advertising, and some have already seen dramatic drops in traffic—one reported an 80 % decline—especially during the crucial holiday season.

Some creators who have maintained steady audiences point to building loyal followers and producing highly detailed, experience-driven content, but there’s broad concern that casual searchers won’t click through to original sites if the AI results seem “good enough.”

Industry voices describe the change as an existential threat to ad-supported recipe blogs, with a few suggesting alternatives like paywalls, subscription platforms, or even a renewed interest in traditional cookbooks. But most agree that without wider awareness and adjustments to how AI is deployed, many food bloggers face an uncertain future.

Sourced from The Guardian