The increasing use of AI-generated content has changed how SEO agencies and businesses approach content creation. With tools like ChatGPT, it’s easier than ever to produce large volumes of text at scale. However, Google’s algorithms have evolved to detect low-quality, mass-generated content, ensuring that only valuable, well-structured, and original articles rank well.
We decided to test how AI-generated content performs in search rankings and whether it can be a sustainable long-term strategy. Our agency created and published AI-generated content across various SEO and digital marketing topics, tracking its impact on organic traffic and search visibility.
Why We Conducted This Experiment
The purpose of this experiment was to determine:
- If AI-generated content could successfully rank on Google.
- Whether it could drive meaningful organic traffic.
- How Google’s algorithm would react over time.
The findings revealed critical insights into how Google evaluates AI-generated content and why it is risky to rely on AI without human oversight.
Generating AI Content: The Start of the Experiment
To execute this experiment, we used AI writing tools like ChatGPT to generate various types of content, including:
- Blog articles.
- Case studies.
- Service pages related to our agency’s core offerings.
We focused on expert-level topics, covering specific SEO strategies, digital marketing insights, Google Anlytics implementation, and problem-solving case studies based on real tasks our agency handled for clients.
How We Selected Topics
Instead of randomly generating AI-written articles, we chose highly relevant topics with clear search intent. The content strategy included:
- Technical SEO breakdowns (e.g., site audits, indexing issues).
- Content marketing strategies (e.g., blog optimization, keyword research).
- GA4 and GTM implementation (e.g., everyday problems solving).
- Industry insights and trends (e.g., Google algorithm updates).
By targeting specific keyword clusters, our goal was to see if AI-generated content could help our website rank for competitive search terms.
Strong Organic Growth at the Start
We noticed a significant organic traffic increase as soon as we began publishing AI-generated articles. Our website started ranking for multiple keywords related to SEO, content marketing, and digital advertising. The growth was rapid because:
✅ We wrote about highly specific, niche topics within our industry.
✅ Our content was optimized for search intent and keyword relevance.
✅ Google indexed and ranked many of our AI-generated articles within days.
This early success suggested that AI-generated content could be an efficient way to expand website visibility—at least initially. However, as we would soon discover, Google's algorithms are extremely advanced, capable of detecting AI-written patterns that human readers might not notice.
AI-Generated Content vs. Human-Written Content
After a few months, we closely analyzed the differences between AI-generated and human-written content based on quality, user engagement, and search rankings.
Quality Comparison
While AI-generated content was grammatically correct and logically structured, it lacked key human elements:
- Originality – AI often repeats similar phrases and ideas.
- Depth – Articles lacked real-world examples and personal insights.
- Engagement – AI-generated text felt generic compared to expert-written content.
Why SEO Agencies (and website owners!) Should Be Cautious
Using AI-generated content without human refinement is risky. Google prioritizes E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness), and AI-written articles often fail to meet these standards.
AI can be a powerful tool for content creation, but it should be used only as an assistant—not as a primary content source. Over-reliance on AI-generated text without human intervention can lead to serious SEO penalties, as we saw in our test.
Google’s Initial Reaction: The First Signs of Trouble
After the initial surge in organic rankings and traffic, we began to notice subtle but concerning signs that Google’s algorithm was reassessing our AI-generated content.
Indexing and Ranking Shifts
At first, our AI-generated blog posts were indexed quickly and ranked well for long-tail keywords. However, after a few months, we observed:
- Fluctuating rankings—some articles dropped significantly in SERPs.
- Delayed indexing—new AI-generated content took longer to appear in search results.
- Disappearance from SERPs—a few articles that initially ranked well were no longer visible in Google’s index.
This suggested that Google’s ranking algorithm was re-evaluating our content over time rather than immediately penalizing it.
Decline in Organic Traffic
Around three months after publishing AI-generated content, our organic traffic began to decline. Google Analytics and Google Search Console revealed:
❌ A steady drop in impressions and clicks from search results.
❌ A higher number of de-indexed pages, meaning Google was removing some AI-generated content.
❌ Drop in average positions.
While we still ranked for some keywords, many pages experienced a sharp decline in visibility.
Identifying the first SEO Issues
As we investigated further, we found several clear signs that Google was penalizing AI-generated content—not with an outright manual penalty, but through its core ranking algorithms.
Problems with Indexation
One of the earliest red flags was Google’s inconsistent indexing of new content. While human-written blog posts were indexed normally, some AI-generated articles took weeks to appear in Google’s index—if they were indexed at all.
💡 Key insight: Google’s algorithms seemed to apply a higher level of scrutiny to AI-generated content, delaying or even rejecting its indexation.
Early Signs of an SEO Penalty
At this stage, we suspected that Google had algorithmically demoted some of our AI-generated pages. While we didn’t receive a manual penalty notification, the decline in traffic, de-indexing, and ranking drops were clear warning signs that Google was treating our AI-generated content as lower quality.
Google Penalty: How We Confirmed the Algorithmic Hit
After noticing a consistent drop in rankings, we conducted a detailed analysis to confirm whether our website had been penalized.
Traffic & Ranking Comparison
We compared pre-AI vs. post-AI performance and found that:
📉 AI-generated pages lost around 80% of their rankings within 1 week.
📉 Human-written pages maintained stable rankings, with some even improving.
📉 Organic traffic from Google dropped by over 60%, affecting overall conversions.
Evaluating Google Algorithm Updates
Around this time, Google had rolled out new search algorithm updates, reinforcing their commitment to high-quality, authoritative content. Our content failed to meet E-E-A-T criteria, making it vulnerable to ranking drops.
Impact on Our Search Visibility
As a result of this penalty, we faced several critical issues:
- Loss of keyword positions in competitive search queries.
- Lower client inquiries, as our visibility decreased in search results.
This confirmed our biggest concern: AI-generated content was not a sustainable SEO strategy on its own.
Key Factors That Led to the Google Penalty
Once we confirmed the algorithmic penalty, we needed to analyze the root causes behind the drop in rankings. While AI-generated content performed well initially, certain critical SEO factors were missing, leading Google to devalue our pages.
Lack of Human Intervention
One of the biggest mistakes we made was publishing AI-generated content without substantial human editing or expert input. Google prioritizes content that demonstrates Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T), and AI-generated content struggles to meet these criteria.
🔴 No real-world experience—AI-generated text lacked firsthand insights or unique case studies.
🔴 Surface-level expertise—while technically correct, the content often lacked the depth that true industry professionals would provide.
🔴 No clear author authority—Google favors content written by recognized experts, but AI-generated posts don’t have verified authorship.
💡 Lesson: AI content needs to be refined and supplemented with real expertise to avoid penalties.
Repetitive Language & Low Originality
Another issue was the patterned and repetitive nature of AI-generated content. Google’s algorithms are highly advanced and can detect:
❌ Repetitive sentence structures and phrasing—many AI-generated articles followed predictable writing patterns.
❌ Similar wording across different topics—AI tends to reuse certain expressions, making the content feel formulaic.
❌ Lack of unique insights—Google prefers original, well-researched content that adds new value to a topic.
Even though the content was grammatically correct and readable, Google downgraded pages that lacked originality and uniqueness.
How We Attempted to Recover The Website
Once we identified the core issues, we launched a structured SEO recovery plan to restore our site’s rankings.
Manual Review & Content Improvements
The first step was conducting a full audit of AI-generated content. We:
✔ Rewrote and expanded AI-generated articles, incorporating expert insights.
✔ Added author bylines and credentials to establish credibility.
✔ Improved content formatting—using better subheadings, bullet points, and visuals for readability.
This human intervention helped boost content quality and E-E-A-T signals.
Requesting Google Re-evaluation
After making significant content and UX changes, we submitted re-indexation requests to Google via Google Search Console.
📌 Key actions taken:
- Requested reconsideration for de-indexed pages.
- Updated XML sitemaps to reflect content changes.
- Resubmitted high-value pages for crawling and ranking adjustments.
This helped speed up Google’s reassessment process, allowing us to recover some lost rankings.
The Results After Implementing Corrections
Long-Term Strategy: A Hybrid Content Approach
To avoid future penalties, we adopted a new content strategy:
✔ AI-generated content is now only used for drafts and brainstorming.
✔ Every article is thoroughly rewritten and optimized by human experts.
✔ We focus on building authority through original research, expert interviews, and detailed case studies.
This hybrid model ensures that we leverage AI efficiently while maintaining high-quality standards for SEO.
Final Takeaways from Our Experiment
Can AI-Generated Content Be Successful?
✅ Yes, but only with significant human refinement.
Our experience showed that AI-generated content can rank well initially, but it lacks the depth, originality, and E-E-A-T factors needed for long-term success. Without human intervention, AI-generated content is at high risk of being penalized.
How to Avoid Google Penalties When Using AI Content
🚨 Do NOT publish AI-generated content without careful review. Google can detect patterned, repetitive text and may devalue content that lacks originality.
📌 Incorporate real-world insights, data, and expertise. AI-generated content should serve as a foundation, but expert input is required to make it stand out.
📌 Use AI for efficiency, not as a full content replacement. AI tools should be used to assist with content creation, not to fully automate it.
📌 Optimize for user engagement. High bounce rates and low time-on-page signal poor quality—ensure that AI content is engaging and valuable.
Google Does Not Ban AI Content—But It Does Not Accept It "As Is"
Google has never outright banned AI-generated content. However, it judges all content based on quality, originality, and user value. If AI-generated articles fail to meet these standards, they will not perform well in search rankings.
Recommendations for Businesses Using AI in Content Marketing
💡 Use AI for brainstorming, but let human experts finalize the content.
💡 Fact-check and improve readability. AI often generates generic, repetitive content—enhancing it with real data and case studies improves its credibility.
💡 Combine AI efficiency with human creativity. A hybrid content approach delivers the best results.
The Role of an SEO Agency in AI Content Strategy
For businesses looking to scale their content efforts while avoiding Google penalties, partnering with an experienced SEO agency is crucial. A professional agency ensures that AI-generated content is optimized for SEO and aligned with Google’s quality standards.
At Promotis, we specialize in Digital marketing, especially in SEO, Martech, Analytics, Email, and CRM implementation.
If you’re considering your business digital Growth, let’s discuss how to do it the right way. ✅
Final Thoughts
Our case study proved that AI-generated content can bring short-term SEO gains but also carries serious risks. Google’s algorithms are incredibly advanced and can detect low-quality, repetitive content that lacks expert insight and originality.
For long-term success in SEO, AI should be a tool—not a replacement for human expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can AI-generated content still rank well on Google?
Yes, but only if it is carefully edited, optimized, and aligned with E-E-A-T principles.
2. How long does it take to recover from an AI-related Google penalty?
Recovery time depends on how quickly you improve content quality—it can take several months for Google to reassess rankings.
3. Is AI-generated content against Google’s policies?
No, but Google ranks content based on quality, value, and trustworthiness—AI content must meet the same standards as human-written content. You can read more here.
4. What is the best way to use AI for content marketing?
Use AI for brainstorming, drafting, and structuring content, but ensure that human writers refine, fact-check, and enhance it.
5. Should I work with an SEO agency to optimize AI content?
If you want high-quality content that ranks well without risking penalties, an SEO agency can help you strategically integrate AI-generated content into your digital marketing plan.