I attended the Google Creator Conversation summit yesterday
About to hop a flight to London. I have a lot more thoughts I'll write up later. I'm still digesting.
But here are my quick takeaways (just my perspective - I know others may have a different one):
1) The creators did a FANTASTIC job representing small independent publishers and speaking truth to power.
2) IMHO, the event was not a PR stunt. I hope y'all know I 100% would say if I thought it was. But there no press, no photographers, no attempt by Google to control the narrative, and everything you've heard about it so far has come from creators
3) It was actually a real conversation -- and not just with Danny, but with engineers, project managers, and even VPs of the Search Team. The creators had a lot of time to talk. I personally probably had the mic 20-30 minutes total, and I spent hours more in one-on-one talks with various Google employees. I talked so much that my voice gave out by the end of the day!
4) We were allowed to speak our minds and we did so. Other creators there can attest I said exactly the same sort of stuff I've been saying on Twitter. I did not hold back or sugar coat it. I even directly and very assertively confronted Pandu Nayak in front of everyone about AI.
5) Collectively, we covered pretty much all the topics I wanted to see covered. That's not to say I heard satisfactory answers to all the topics (I didn't, not by a long shot).
6) Danny is charming and was a great host
7) Danny started the whole thing off with a direct and unequivocal apology to the creators in the room
8) I believe Danny wants better for small independent publishers. And I also believe he is not alone in wanting that among the Search team. I believe the issue is that we have yet to sufficiently penetrate the radar of leadership or other teams at Google.
9) I personally think the event was 100% worth going to and I hope they do it again
10) However, unfortunately I agree with others that it is unlikely Google is going to significantly change its ways anytime soon (at least not without significant further pressure and conversations)
11) I was especially unhappy with Pandu Nayak's response to my question about AI
12) Realistically, as I've said since the spring, I think most creators are best assuming Google will never fix anything and adjusting your business strategies appropriately
13) I learned a lot about Google, but it mostly just reinforced what I already believe is happening
Again, this is just my perspective. Others felt differently
Most importantly, it was AWESOME to meet all the other creators
I have a LOT more to thoughts than the above, a lot of them nuanced