Will Google AI Mode hurt small websites?

Probably yes — at least for some kinds of small websites.

Google’s AI Mode / AI-generated search answers can reduce clicks to sites that mainly earn traffic from simple, informational searches, because users may get what they need without visiting a page. That tends to hurt small publishers, niche blogs, affiliate sites, and ad-supported sites more than brands with strong direct audiences.

But it is not a universal “death sentence.” Sites that offer original reporting, first-hand experience, unique data, tools, community, or deeply specialized expertise can still do well, especially on queries that AI can’t answer cleanly.

What small sites should do:

1. Focus on content that adds something original: testing, experience, data, examples, analysis.
2. Build direct traffic sources: email, social, communities, RSS, YouTube, and repeat visitors.
3. Target niche or complex topics where a full answer needs nuance, not just a short summary.
4. Watch Search Console closely for changes in impressions, clicks, and pages that lose traffic.

So the short answer is: yes, Google AI Mode is likely to hurt some small websites, especially those reliant on generic search traffic, but sites with distinctive value can adapt and remain competitive.