Is Google Killing Your Blog Traffic? The AI Overviews Lawsuit Explained
Penske Media is suing Google, claiming AI Overviews scrape content, misstate facts, and steal traffic. For Realtors, this lawsuit highlights the urgent need to adapt from SEO to AEO—Answer Engine Optimization.
If you've been building your business with blogs, SEO, or content marketing, you need to hear this: Google is being sued over AI Overviews. And depending on how it plays out, the way we approach online visibility could shift in a big way.
Here's the story.
Penske Media - the parent company of Rolling Stone, Billboard, Variety, and others - filed a federal lawsuit against Google in Washington, D.C. in September 2025. Penske alleges that Google's AI Overviews scrape publishers' content, present it directly to users at the top of search results, and cut off traffic to the original sites. They also allege that traffic and affiliate revenue are down more than a third since peak 2024. Google disagrees, saying AI Overview improve search usefulness and drive discovery.
For context, this is a U.S. case. Canadian Realtors should still take note - the strategic implications apply across both markets.
Why does this matter to Realtors?
Because if major publishers are losing traffic, so will you. Imagine writing the perfect blog on "How to Buy a Condo in Denver." Instead of people clicking your link, Google's AI just answers the question right in the search box. Users get info without ever visiting your site. That means fewer clicks and fewer leads. And if the AI misstates your expertise or attributes something wrong, your reputation could be on the line.
So how do we adapt?
This is where the shift SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) comes in. SEO was about ranking on page one. AEO is about being the source AI pulls from when it generates answers. Different game, same goal: get noticed.
Here's how to pivot:
Double down on E-E-A-T. That's Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Add your license number and years of experience in your blog bio. Highlight awards and include real testimonials or case studeis.
Write from the first person. Instead of "The average closing time in Denver is 30 days," say, "In my 15 years helping Denver buyers, I've seen most closings take 30 to 45 days." That lived experienced matters.
Answer questions directly. If the post is "How long does closing take in Denver?" then lead with a clear, ≤40-word answer. AI loves concise, structured info.
Use schema markup. FAQPage or RealEstateListing schema spoon-feed your info to Google, making you easier to cite.
The takeaway:
AI Overview aren't going away. Fighting them is wasted energy. The opportunity is to shift your strategy so that when a buyer or seller asks Google a question, your voice is the one the AI cites.
And while you adapt AEO, don't forget the safety net: your database. No matter what happens to search traffic, no algorithm can take away the clients and contacts you own.
So, big question for you: Are you treating AI Overview as a threat, or as the next wave of opportunity? My take - it's both. The Realtors who adapt now will be the ones the AI trusts and cites in 2026 and beyond.
If you're ready to stop guessing at SEO and start building an AEO strategy that works in real estate, that's exactly what we do inside the Wolfpack. ]
FAQ (Schema-Ready)
Q: What is Google being sued for?
A: Penske Media claims AI Overviews copy content without permission, reduce traffic, and misrepresent facts.
Q: How do AI Overviews affect Realtors?
A: They may summarize answers from your blog without sending visitors to your site, reducing leads.
Q: How can Realtors adapt to AI Overviews?
A: Build trust signals (E-E-A-T), answers questions directly, and use structured schema so AI cites your site.
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