AI: The Silent Killer of SEO and AdSense?

Introduction

Hey there, building on my previous blog about the possible effects of AI, in this post, I will delve deeper into how AI will possibly change the way we surf the WEB. I will also give my prediction on how AI Searches will/could change the way we see SEO and how it will most likely impact Google Ad Sense Revenues for Content Creators.

Understanding Different Types of Google Searches:

To begin with let's look at the different types of Google searches people do, based on their Search Intent:

• Informational Search

• Transaction Search

• Consumer Search

Now in context to this article it is essential that you understand these Search types, because only then will we be able target out and pinpoint exactly how and where-all will AI-Driven searches have impact.

Informational Search- As the name suggests the purpose of these searches is to gather information about something. These are your typical “How to..” and “What is…” searches, like anything related to gathering information about a topic.

Transactional searches & Consumer searches are conducted by users who intend to complete a specific action, such as making a purchase. The most important thing to remember here is that the person who is performing a Transactional search is very clear about what he/she wants to purchase. This is one of the main difference between a transactional search and a Consumer Search.

When a user performs a consumer search, it is most likely that they are surfing the web, browsing different websites to analyze different products and they are yet to finalize what they want to purchase.

The Impact of AI Tools on Different Search Types

Now that we have a clear understanding about the different types of searches, we can move on to the next part which is analyzing which one of these searches will be affected the most by AI tools.

I don't know about you, but I've started using AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude for all the generic informational searches I used to perform on Google. These AI tools provide quick, concise answers, saving me time and often giving more personalized and accurate responses. Be it for looking-up definitions or getting explanations on different topics AI-tools have become my go to source for information.

Rise of Zero-Click Searches:

This shift from once doing google searched to now performing those tasks on AI tools have led to an increase in something called as ZERO-CLICK Searches. As the name suggests zero-click searches basically mean that users tend to find answers to their queries without clicking on any actual websites that has the information. The most important thing we have to analyze now is which type of searches is affected the most. It is pretty obvious that Informational Searches are heavily going to affected. Imagine a person searching for something like: What is an apple? Now instead of surfing the web, it is most likely that the user will look for responses on something like a ChatGPT. What I’m trying to say is Informational Searches that quite generic can be easily answered and in fact more accurately answered by AI Tools. I, personally think using AI tools to gather information is far more efficient, it completely eliminates the need to look for appropriate websites that will have the information and also saves time in compiling responses from different websites. But keep in mind only Informational Searches that are widely generic, meaning those that have some fixed answers or opinions will be largely affected. However, transactional and consumer searches are a different story. When people are looking to buy goods, they often know exactly what they want and which websites they prefer to visit. Purchasing decisions are personal, and consumers are less likely to rely on AI tools to make these choices for them. As a result, the role of AI in consumer and transactional searches will be limited.

How AI-Driven Searches are changing SEO and Google AdSense Revenues

The Silent Death of SEO and AdSense

Now since people will stop surfing the web SEO is out of the picture. Don’t look at this situation with just the present situation in mind, think about what would happen when AI advances to a level where surfing the web for Informational queries becomes obsolete. It doesn’t matter anymore does it? Why spend time on building SEO when people no longer surf the web! Instead, content creators should focus on optimizing their websites for AI-driven platforms. This means ensuring their content is easily accessible and readable by AI. Another major consequence of this shift will be the impact on Google AdSense revenues. For those of you, who don’t know about Google AdSense, it is a program that allows website owners to display ads on their sites. Ever seen those irritating little boxes of ads on websites? Those kind of ads displayed with the help of AdSense! These ads are typically targeted to the site's content and audience, making them relevant visitors. When a visitor clicks on one of these ads, the website owner earns money. The revenue generated from these clicks is shared between Google and the website owner.

However, as AI advances and people stop surfing the web for informational queries, the traffic to these websites is likely to decrease significantly. Fewer visitors mean fewer clicks on ads, leading to a drop in earnings for content creators and businesses. This decline in web traffic will also affect Google's earnings from AdSense, as their share of the PPC(pay-per-click) revenue will also diminish. This shows us that it is an All-around loss, affecting both Google’s Revenue as well as content creators. This is my assumption I may be wrong though!

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, AI-driven searches are changing the way we surf the web, especially when it comes to informational searches. With tools like ChatGPT and Gemini providing quick and accurate answers, people no longer need to visit multiple websites to find information. This means fewer clicks on search results and a rise in zero-click searches.

Content creators who rely on SEO and Google AdSense for revenue will feel the impact as web traffic decreases, leading to fewer ad clicks and lower earnings. To stay relevant and make money, content creators need to focus on making their content easily accessible and readable by AI platforms. This way, they can continue to reach their audience