An 'AI contribution' earnings pilot appeared in Search Console for selected publishers

Selected publishers saw a new AI contribution section in Search Console offering earnings when their content contributes significantly to AI-generated responses in the Gemini app, AI Overviews and AI Mode. Google confirmed it as an early-stage learning pilot.

The sign-up screen reads 'Start earning with AI contribution pilot. Accumulate earnings when your content contributes significantly to AI-generated responses in participating products.' Participating publishers get an AI earnings widget in Search Console showing monthly earnings, an earnings history, participation settings and payment transfers to a bank account. Google described it as an early-stage learning pilot to test how best to reward high-quality content on top of the traffic and tools it already provides. It is invite-only, has reached dozens of publishers rather than rolling out broadly, and has extended beyond news publishers; smaller and mid-sized publishers have been more receptive than large ones.

Logged here as a Search Console surface change, not as a ranking or AI Overviews change.