Google Introduces Embeddable "Preferred Sources" Button for Publishers

Google is allowing online publishers to embed an interactive “Preferred Sources” button on their own websites. [1] When readers push this button, it indicates the publisher is a favorite source they would like to see highlighted more often across Google Search, Discover, and Google News. [1] Google stated that people are twice as likely to click through to a preferred source when available. [1]

Users will soon be able to use natural language commands to customize their Discover feed in Google’s app. [1] Readers will tap a three-dot menu and tell Google what topics they would like to see more or less of to refine the feed in real time. [1] Google Discover is getting an AI chatbot-tuned feed. [2]

By offering these tools, Google is trying to assuage the damage caused by the rapid growth of AI-powered search features to traffic-dependent businesses. This expansion follows the company's rollout of preferred sources to AI Mode and AI Overviews in May, where users selected over 345,000 unique sources. What the sources don't address: how user adoption rates for these new embeddable publisher buttons will compare to the engagement seen on Google's own preferences page.