Google is introducing a new option that gives publishers a more direct way to connect with readers inside Search, Discover, and Google News. The feature, called Preferred Sources, lets users mark a publisher as a favorite from the publisher's own website, helping that source appear more often in Google's content surfaces.
The move builds on a rollout that began in May, when Google expanded Preferred Sources into its AI experiences, including AI Mode and AI Overviews. The company says the goal is to make it easier for people to surface outlets they trust when exploring topics or following current updates.
According to Google, readers have already selected more than 345,000 unique sources through the feature. Publishers that earn preferred status may benefit from stronger visibility and higher click-through rates, as Google says people are more likely to open content from sources they have chosen themselves.
Google is also extending personalization across its products. Soon, users will be able to shape their Discover feed with natural language prompts, telling the app which topics they want more or less of. Android users will additionally gain the ability to customize audio daily briefings in the Google News app.
As AI reshapes how audiences discover information, tools like these point toward a more personalized and source-aware media ecosystem that could redefine digital publishing in the years ahead.
