Google AI Overviews and AI Mode
AI Overviews are AI-generated summaries shown on Google results pages; AI Mode is a separate, conversational AI search experience. Both use Google’s Search index, and any page that is indexed and eligible for a snippet can be shown as a supporting link: Google says “there are no additional technical requirements.” Their impressions and clicks are included in Search Console.
When did AI Overviews and AI Mode launch?
- AI Overviews rolled out to everyone in the US on May 14, 2024, at Google I/O 2024.[1]
- AI Mode began as a Labs experiment on March 5, 2025; in that announcement Google said AI Overviews were used by more than a billion people.[2]
- AI Mode rolled out to all US users from May 20, 2025.[3]
Who is eligible to appear?
“To be eligible to be shown as a supporting link in AI Overviews or AI Mode, a page must be indexed and eligible to be shown in Google Search with a snippet.”[4] Google’s newer guide adds that a site “must be included in Search generative AI features in Search Console” to be eligible.[5] Google says no special files, AI text files or schema are needed.[4]
How are AI Overviews and AI Mode different?
Google: AI Overviews “are only shown when our systems determine that it is additive to classic Search, and as such, often don’t trigger,” while AI Mode is “particularly helpful for queries where further exploration, reasoning, or complex comparisons are needed.” The two “may use different models and techniques, so the set of responses and links they show will vary.”[4]
How does Search Console count them?
| AI Overviews | AI Mode | |
|---|---|---|
| Click | Click on an external link counts | Click on an external link counts |
| Impression | Standard rules; link must be scrolled or expanded into view | Standard rules |
| Position | One position shared by all links in the Overview | Same methodology as a results page; follow-ups are new queries |
Source: Search Console Help.[6]
The Generative AI performance report breaks out AI Overviews and AI Mode impressions by page, country, device and date.[7] See Google Search Console.
How do you control your content in AI features?
Robots.txt rules for Googlebot govern crawling for Search, including AI features. To limit what is shown, Google points to nosnippet, data-nosnippet, max-snippet or noindex. Google-Extended governs some other Google AI systems, not Search.[4][8]
Frequently asked questions
Do I need schema to appear in AI Overviews?
No. Google says no special schema.org structured data is required, though structured data should match visible content.
Does blocking Google-Extended remove me from AI Overviews?
No. Google-Extended does not affect inclusion in Google Search. AI Overviews are part of Search and governed by Googlebot and snippet controls.
Are AI Overview clicks worth less?
Google says clicks from results pages with AI Overviews are higher quality, with users more likely to spend more time on the site. Pew found fewer clicks overall when a summary appeared.
See also
References
Sources accessed October 14, 2026 unless another date is given. See all sources.
- “Google I/O 2024: New generative AI experiences in Search”. Google (The Keyword). May 14, 2024.
- “Expanding AI Overviews and introducing AI Mode”. Google (The Keyword). March 5, 2025.
- “AI Mode in Google Search: Updates from Google I/O 2025”. Google (The Keyword). May 20, 2025.
- “AI features and your website”. Google Search Central. accessed October 14, 2026.
- “Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google Search”. Google Search Central. accessed October 14, 2026.
- “What are impressions, position, and clicks?”. Search Console Help. accessed October 14, 2026.
- “Generative AI performance report (Search)”. Search Console Help. rolled out to all sites as of August 31, 2026; accessed October 14, 2026.
- “List of Google's common crawlers (Googlebot, Google-Extended)”. Google for Developers. accessed October 14, 2026.