This change could have significant implications for the multibillion-dollar Search Engine Optimization (SEO) industry, as many websites and publications base their strategies on Google's performance. The alteration in Google's Search recommendations comes as AI capable of generating convincing text becomes more widespread. The most recent Helpful Content Update warns against erasing articles to make a website seem “fresh,” a practice known as “content pruning.”
Key takeaways:
- Google has removed the suggestion that website content should be “written by people” from its guidance for site owners, potentially leading to an increase in AI-generated content.
- Previously, human authorship was a significant factor in how high a site would appear in Google’s search results, but the updated guidance only states that Google wants “content created for people” without specifying the authorship.
- The change could have major implications for websites and publications that base their editorial strategies on Google's performance, as well as the multibillion-dollar Search Engine Optimization (SEO) industry.
- Google's Search recommendations are evolving as AI capable of generating believable text becomes more widespread, sparking industry-wide conversations about practices like "content pruning."