Google AI Overviews rollout hits news publisher search visibility

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the significant impact that Google's AI-written summaries, called "AI Overviews", are having on the visibility of publishers within search results. Key points:

• Google is now delivering AI-written summaries at the top of its search results for all users in the US and UK.
• AI Overviews are being offered for 17% of queries in the UK and US, with a significant impact on publisher visibility.
• AI summaries are already deeply impacting publisher visibility on search when it comes to less time-sensitive content.
• The AI Overviews results are designed to keep readers on the Google website rather than directing them to the original source.
• The introduction of AI Overviews is likely to have a dramatic impact on current search rankings and publisher traffic.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Impact of Google AI Overviews

1. What is the key impact of Google's AI-written summaries (AI Overviews) on the visibility of publishers within search results?

• Google AI Overviews are having a significant impact on the visibility of publishers within search results, with AI-written summaries being delivered at the top of search results for 17% of queries in the UK and US.
• AI summaries are already deeply impacting publisher visibility on search, especially for less time-sensitive content, often pushing down the original publisher's article in the search results.

2. How are the AI Overviews designed to impact user behavior?

• The link symbols on AI Overviews results are designed to keep readers on the Google website rather than taking them directly to the source. Users have to click an additional link to open the source website.

3. What are the potential implications of AI Overviews for publisher traffic and rankings?

• The introduction of AI Overviews is likely to have a dramatic impact on current search rankings and publisher traffic, as the AI summaries are often sourced from pages outside the top 10 search results.
• Even if publishers have established a strong organic ranking, the AI Overviews could mean significant rework is needed to maintain their competitive edge.

[02] Google's Rollout of AI Overviews

1. How has Google's rollout of AI Overviews progressed?

• Google initially rolled out the AI Overviews technology in the US in May but cut it back after some inaccurate AI-written answers were discovered.
• Now, the AI Overviews are being delivered for 17% of queries in the UK and US.

2. What types of search queries are AI Overviews being used for?

• AI-written summaries are rarely delivered by Google for search queries relating to current events.
• However, AI summaries are already deeply impacting publisher visibility on search when it comes to less time-sensitive content.