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# Ankler: AI search traffic isn’t rescuing publisher referrals after all
- URL: https://www.medianexis.com/ankler-ai-search-traffic-isnt-rescuing-publisher-referrals-after-all/
- Published: 2026-09-23T23:56:31.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-23T23:56:32.000Z
- Description: The Ankler’s Sean McNulty notes an Axios study found AI chatbots aren’t sending meaningful click-through traffic to news sites, undercutting the industry narrative that AI search would replace lost Google referrals with a new distribution channel.
- Author: The Signals Desk
- Tags: Creators, Sean McNulty, Ankler: Netflix 2026 film low point newsletter

**Why it matters.** Publishers betting on AI chatbots to replace declining search referrals have no evidence the traffic is materializing.

*Signal from* [*The Ankler*](https://theankler.com/?ref=medianexis.com) *·* [*Sean McNulty*](https://www.medianexis.com/tag/by-sean-mcnulty/) *·* [*read the original*](https://theankler.com/netflix-hits-26-film-low-point/?ref=medianexis.com)*.*