Google Discover to Offer New Language Controls for Multilingual Users.

Google is rolling out a significant update to its Discover feed, introducing a new language selector that will give users unprecedented control over the languages of the content they see. This change, which is a major quality-of-life improvement for multilingual users, moves beyond the current rigid system to offer a more personalized and flexible experience.

For years, the Google Discover feed, which proactively surfaces personalized content, has been a source of frustration for many. While it often delivers articles and videos based on browsing history, its language settings have been notably restrictive. 

The feed's content is primarily tied to a device's main language, with the only way to filter other languages being to manually hide them one by one. This forces many users to choose between their preferred content language and their device’s system language, a common point of friction highlighted in various user forums and support communities.

Also Read: Google’s Discover Feed Gets AI Summaries, Alarming Publishers.

How the Discover New Feature Works.

The new interface, discovered in a beta version of the Google app (version 16.33.64), addresses this issue directly. A new setting for "Discover feed languages" will appear under the "Language & region" menu. Instead of a single selection, users will now be able to choose multiple content languages from a list of options. The update will also include "suggested languages" based on the user's activity. 

Image Credit: AndroidPolice

This allows a user to, for example, have their phone's system in English while still seeing news from a Spanish publication and tech articles from a German source, all within the same feed.

This change is not just about convenience; it's about making the Discover feed truly personal. For many around the globe, their online life and interests span multiple languages, and this update acknowledges that reality. It empowers users to curate a feed that genuinely reflects their interests, rather than one limited by a single language setting.

Implications for Content Creators.

This new feature also has significant implications for content creators and publishers. With users able to select specific languages, it becomes even more critical for creators to have a robust multilingual content strategy. 

Publishers who offer content in multiple languages may see increased visibility in new markets as Google's algorithm can now more accurately match their content with a wider, more diverse audience. As Google's systems for personalization become more granular, the quality and relevance of content will be more important than ever.

While the feature is not yet live for all users and its rollout timeline is not final, the discovery of this beta interface is a strong signal that Google is committed to making the Discover feed a more inclusive and effective tool for a global, multilingual audience.

Google’s Discover Feed Gets AI Summaries, Alarming Publishers.

Google has quietly introduced AI-generated summaries into its Discover feed on the Google Search app, a move that’s already sparking alarm across the publishing industry. With this update, users in the U.S. using Android and iOS devices will now see short, three-line summaries instead of traditional article headlines and source names when browsing trending topics in categories like entertainment and sports.

How does it work?

The summaries are produced by Google’s in-house artificial intelligence models and combine information from multiple sources. These summaries appear at the top of the Discover cards, with a small overlay of icons that indicate how many sources were used to generate the content. Tapping on the icons opens a list of original sources, which users can then click on to read the full articles. A subtle “See more” link expands the summary, and each summary is accompanied by a disclaimer that states: “Generated with AI, which can make mistakes.”

While this change might improve user convenience by offering quick insights without needing to click through, it is generating strong backlash from digital publishers. Industry experts warn that AI summaries could accelerate the existing trend of "zero-click" behavior, where users find their answers directly on Google's platform and no longer visit the actual news sites. Publishers argue that this could deal yet another blow to traffic volumes that are already declining due to previous algorithm changes and the growing prominence of AI-powered search features.

Why Publishers Are Concerned.

Recent data supports these concerns. According to analytics firm Similarweb, traffic to news sites from Google Search has sharply decreased, falling from over 2.3 billion visits in August 2024 to under 1.7 billion by May 2025. During that same period, the number of searches ending without a single click rose from 56% to 69%. Several digital media outlets, including BuzzFeed News, Laptop Mag, and Giant Freakin Robot, have either shut down or significantly downsized in recent months, loss of referral traffic cited as a contributing factor.

Independent publishers in Europe have gone a step further by filing an antitrust complaint with the European Commission, alleging that Google’s AI-driven tools undermine competition and fail to offer publishers meaningful options to opt out of AI training or display. Similar complaints are also under consideration by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, putting regulatory pressure on Google to reconsider how it integrates AI into search and content feeds.

Despite mounting criticism, Google maintains that AI summaries help users explore a broader range of content and that its platforms still drive billions of clicks to publishers every day. The company also introduced monetization tools like Offerwall, which allows publishers to generate revenue through subscriptions, micropayments, and newsletter signups. However, many industry voices argue that such measures are insufficient to counteract the loss of direct web traffic.

As the rollout continues, media companies are grappling with how to adapt. Some are testing their own AI tools to produce summary-style content in a format optimized for visibility within Google's evolving ecosystem. Outlets like Yahoo, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal have started experimenting with article highlights and bullet-point takeaways to compete within the AI-influenced landscape. Still, concerns remain that even these efforts may not be enough to recover lost visibility and revenue.

In the coming months, Google is expected to expand the AI summary feature to cover additional content categories and possibly introduce it in international markets. Meanwhile, publishers and regulators alike are closely watching how this move will affect the future of digital journalism, news distribution, and the broader internet economy. The tension between technological advancement and fair access to digital audiences continues to intensify, with the stakes higher than ever.