The AI overview is changing search – and affecting how you are seen

If you have used Google recently, you have probably already encountered AI Overview. It is a summary answer to your search query created by generative AI. And it appears at the top of the search results, often before ads, excerpts and the classic blue links.

For users and potential customers, it’s convenient to have the answers served up to them. But for those of us who work with brand visibility and content lovingly created in the hope of driving traffic to a site that has cost millions to develop, it represents a change. And a challenge.

Many are already reporting a growing gap between visibility in searches and actual clicks to the site. You are mentioned and your information is visible there – but you are not selected.

What is Google AI Overview?
AI Overview is Google’s new way of answering questions. It is based on generative AI and summarises information from various sources – presented directly in the search results. The answer appears in a large number of searches and often dominates the screen space.