What AI-Written Content Looks Like to Google - And Why It Often Fails

This is the million dollar question: does Google hate AI-written content?

Well… not exactly.

Google doesn’t care how something is written, but what it does care about is whether that content is actually helpful. And unfortunately, a lot of AI content just... isn’t.

It’s not that Google sees “written by AI” and sends it straight to page 50. It’s that most AI content fails the quality test. It’s written for search engines - not humans. It’s full of buzzwords, waffle, and regurgitated content… and light on anything that’s actually useful or insightful.

Common AI Content Problems

AI content isn’t unusual to us anymore - we’ve all read those AI-written blog posts.

You know the ones: same old intros, the same “here’s what you’ll learn” lines, and enough fluff to fill a pillow. It hits the word count, sure, but does it say anything new?

Most of it lacks real-world examples. There’s no personal stories. No original thinking. Just surface-level summaries of what’s already out there.

It sounds authoritative, but when you dig in? There’s no substance. That’s exactly the kind of stuff that underperforms in Google search.

Quality Signals Google Evaluates

Google wants content that shows real experience and expertise. It wants to know who wrote it, when they wrote it, and if they can be trusted on the topic.

This is especially important for things like health, finance, legal stuff - what Google calls “Your Money or Your Life” content. But it applies across the board.

Plus, Google pays attention to how people actually interact with your content. If users click in, skim for 3 seconds, and bounce? That’s a sign your content didn’t deliver.

Making AI Content Work

Now, can you use AI to help you? 100%. But don’t treat it like a finished product. Treat it like a first draft.

Add your voice. Share personal insights. Bring in real examples. Edit the hell out of it. That’s what turns a generic AI draft into something that actually serves your audience.

Also: don’t hide the fact that you used AI. Be transparent. Add an author name. Link to sources. The more credible your content looks, the better it’ll perform.