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Understanding Google's New AI-Generated Content Guidelines

Written by Marissa Merkt | April 24, 2024

The future of AI-generated content until now is uncertain. It is still unclear how Google and other search engines will react to AI content in the future. So, is it safe or not to publish AI content on your website? In response to inquiries regarding AI and content tailored for search engine optimization, Google tweeted "As said before when asked about AI, content created primarily for search engine rankings, however it is done, is against our guidance. If content is helpful & created for people first, that's not an issue."

With all that said, publishing AI-generated content may come with some risks, but that doesn't mean that one shouldn't utilize AI tools to make content more efficient. Most SEO experts use AI-powered Large Language Model (LLM) tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, and OpenAI's GPT-4 to create SEO content. In addition, Google's ever-shifting standards and guidelines are now leaning towards recognizing helpful content created to benefit people, but not content aimed at gaining search engine rankings in the top search results. Continue reading to learn more about Google's new AI-generated content guidelines and how we can help you utilize AI-generated content properly to enhance your SEO rankings.

AI-Generated Content on the Rise

Two main factors have led to the rise of AI-generated content on the web. One of the factors is  Google's shift from classifying AI-generated content as "spam and breaking our guidelines" to "our focus is on the quality of content, rather than how content is produced". This has undoubtedly resulted in lots of AI-generated content flooding the web without being detected. The second factor is that LLM tools are improving daily in terms of efficiency and scalability. Besides generating texts, LLM tools are being utilized in numerous industries to create images, videos, or even code.

Google's New AI-Generated Content Guidelines

Some of the critical aspects of Google guidelines on AI-generated content include:

  • Transparency: Google requires websites publishing AI content to be transparent about its use. Such websites should clearly indicate that they have utilized AI while creating content.
  • Quality/Originality: Just like human-written content, AI content must provide original and quality information to users.
  • User Experience/People first content: People-first content is content explicitly crafted for human readers and not to help in search engine ranks. Google insists that the intention of AI-generated content should be to provide insightful information to human readers rather than focus on enhancing search engine rankings.
  • Correct Information:Google requires AI-generated content to provide readers or viewers with helpful information that enhances their engagement with a certain business or organization. This means the information should also be presented to viewers familiar with an industry or business.

What Ranks as Spammy?

Google uses a sophisticated spam-detection algorithm known as SpamBrain to analyze patterns and identify spammy content. Spammy content can be defined as low-quality content that uses manipulative SEO tactics to enhance traffic, conversion, and clicks. Some of the content that Google now classifies as spammy include site reputation, scaled content, and use of expired domains.

With these abuses aiming at increasing search rankings, Google keeps updating their spam policies to easily flag the evolving practices that flood unoriginal, low-quality content on their search. They achieve this by making algorithmic enhancements to their core ranking systems to easily detect and remove unwanted low-quality content from Search.

As a content creator, you can avoid your content being flagged as spam by complying with recent Google spam updates and policies. Overall, you should always focus on publishing high-quality content.

Optimize your AI-Generated Content for Better Rankings with WEBITMD

Google guidelines on AI-generated content and algorithm updates indicate the search engine's dedication to maintaining high-quality and helpful content in their Search. As a content creator, marketer, and website owner, you can utilize AI-generated content by complying with these guidelines.

At WEBITMD, we understand the benefits of adhering to these guidelines while using AI-generated content to boost your online presence. Contact us today to learn how you can boost your online presence and content properly to improve your SEO rankings.