Google has introduced a new feature called "Page Annotation" to its iOS app, which automatically converts certain website text into links to Google Search results. This move has sparked controversy among web publishers, who are concerned about the implications of this feature on their content and user experience.

The feature, announced in a community post, uses artificial intelligence to "extract interesting entities from the webpage and highlights them in line," allowing users to tap on the highlighted text to access relevant search results. While this may seem like a convenient feature for users, website owners are not pleased with the fact that they were not consulted or asked for permission before Google started inserting links into their content.

In fact, website owners who do not want their content to be annotated with Google's search links have to opt out of the feature by filling out a form. According to the form, the opt-out process can take up to 30 days, and website owners need to enter all variations of their site, including "www and non-www, http and https, and subdomains." This has raised concerns about the level of control Google is exerting over the web and the potential impact on website owners' ability to manage their own content.

The feature has drawn comparisons to Google's "ad intents" feature, which was introduced to its AdSense platform earlier this year. While both features involve automatically placing links on website text, the key difference is that website owners have to opt into ad intents, whereas they have to opt out of Page Annotation. This has sparked debate about the motivations behind Google's move and whether it is an attempt to further entrench its dominance in the search engine market.

Google's move has also raised antitrust concerns, given the company's ongoing battles over its search and advertising businesses. Critics argue that the feature is another example of Google's abuse of its market power, and that it could have a chilling effect on innovation and competition in the tech industry.

As the tech industry continues to grapple with the implications of Google's Page Annotation feature, one thing is clear: the move has sparked a heated debate about the role of tech giants in shaping the web and the need for greater transparency and accountability in their actions. Whether Google's move will ultimately benefit users or website owners remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – the feature has raised important questions about the future of the web and the role of tech companies in shaping it.