Core Viewpoint - Google is facing scrutiny for contradictory statements regarding the state of the open web, admitting in legal documents that it is in rapid decline, which contradicts its public claims of a thriving digital ecosystem [2][3]. Group 1: Google's Position on the Open Web - Google has historically positioned itself as a defender of the open web, promoting the vitality and robustness of the digital ecosystem [2]. - In a recent legal case regarding its advertising monopoly, Google acknowledged the severe decline of the open web, suggesting that splitting its advertising business would exacerbate this decline and harm content publishers reliant on ad revenue [2][3]. Group 2: Criticism from Content Publishers - Content publishers are increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction, with some, like WalletHub's CEO, taking drastic measures by blocking Google from indexing their pages, accusing the company of enabling AI-driven content theft [4][5]. - The sentiment among content publishers is that Google's AI models constitute "content theft," as users can obtain complete information from Google's AI summaries, bypassing original content creators [5][6]. Group 3: Industry Reactions and Comparisons - Prominent figures in the media industry have criticized Google for not compensating content creators, contrasting it with other AI companies that, despite criticism, are paying for content [5][6]. - Critics argue that Google's AI-driven search tools are harming content publishers by significantly reducing their traffic, with a median "zero-click rate" reaching 80% since the introduction of AI overview features [7].