Google's AI contribution pilot pays publishers under 0.1% of ad revenue

Google is paying roughly 100 publishers less than 0.1% of their advertising revenue through its AI contribution pilot, The Information reported, per Search Engine Roundtable’s Sept. 30 write-up. Payouts vary widely — some publishers earned under $1,000 over several months, one made $50,000-$60,000, and another topped $1 million a year — and participants say Google hasn’t explained how the monthly totals are calculated. The wire first reported the pilot’s Sept. 16 launch, when Google had disclosed no payment rate; this is the first reporting of one.