Google lets publishers fight AI traffic losses

Google is giving publishers a new tool to combat AI-driven traffic declines: an embeddable "Preferred Sources" button that lets readers mark a site as a favorite. This signals Google to highlight that publisher more prominently across Search, Discover, and Google News, including AI Mode and AI Overviews. Google says preferred sources see twice the click-through rates. Alongside this, Google is rolling out natural language customization for Discover feeds, letting users describe in their own words what content they want to see more or less of. Android users will also gain the ability to personalize audio daily briefings in the Google News app.