Google Now Against AI Content? New Guidelines Raise Eyebrows – SEO News #1 April 2025

In a surprising move, Google appears to be turning its back on AI-generated content – at least the low-effort kind. According to the latest update to the Search Quality Rater Guidelines (January 2025), content created by generative AI tools should now receive the Lowest quality rating.

The change was confirmed by Google’s John Mueller during Search Central Live in Madrid, and shared by Aleyda Solis on her LinkedIn profile.

But is that something entirely new or different? Well, not exactly – we’re all aware that original and high-quality content was always the case for Google, and that misused AI will bring low-quality results. This case is simply important because Google for the first time addresses the problems that AI-generated content may cause.

One major update is in Section 4.6.6., where Google clearly states that if most or all of a page’s main content is copied, paraphrased, or generated by automation or AI, and offers little to no effort, originality, or value – it deserves the Lowest rating. Citing sources isn’t enough to avoid this rate.

What’s especially interesting — Google has also expanded its definition of spam, introducing new problem areas like “scaled content abuse” (mass-produced low-quality content) and “expired domain abuse” (repurposing old domains for SEO tricks). Overstated author credentials and misleading page designs also face stricter penalties, which seems to be crucial in terms of E-E-A-T and reliability.

Google’s priority is quite clear: real value for real users.