Google-Extended Lets Publishers Control AI Training Data Access

As AI like Bard and Vertex AI expand, Google unveiled a new control called Google-Extended to let web publishers manage site content contribution to enhancing these models.

The move highlights publishers' emerging challenge in balancing AI advancement and content control.

What is Google-Extended?

Google-Extended allows publishers to use robots.txt to specify whether or not their content can be used to improve Google AI like Bard and Vertex AI generative APIs powering services like language translation.

For example, publishers can block paywall content while allowing access to other site areas. This grants publishers more autonomy over their content's role in developing future AI systems.

Managing AI Access to Websites

Google stressed Google-Extended aims to foster a balanced AI ecosystem benefiting both publishers and technological progress.

But as more companies leverage sites' content to train AI models, publishers are increasingly faced with controlling various AI access to their sites.

Along with Google-Extended, publishers can also utilize solutions like GPTbot to limit or block access to content across AI systems, not just Google.

A Fine Line Between AI Innovation and Publisher Rights

Google-Extended represents a thoughtful approach to empowering publishers while enabling AI advancement. With AI poised to transform industries, getting this balance right will be an ongoing priority.

Publishers wanting more information can join Google's mailing list for AI publisher controls. As AI evolves, expect more publisher tools for managing content contribution to AI training data.