What is Google AI Overview and how will it impact your business?

What exactly is Google AI Overview?

Google AI Overview is a new feature in Google Search that replaces an earlier program known as Search Generative Experience (SGE). This feature was officially announced at the Google I/O conference in May 2023. AI Overview works in such a way that when you enter a query into Google, it can trigger an automatically generated summary of the answers to your question.

These summaries are created based on information available on the web and data from the Google Knowledge Graph, so you get a quick and condensed answer without having to click on links to individual pages. AI-generated summaries will appear at the top of search results, including key information and links to sources. The feature will initially be available to users in the US, with plans to expand its availability to other countries before the end of 2024. In some cases, you will be able to click "Show more" to see more details and where the AI ​​drew its information from.

AI Overview is designed to help users quickly understand and digest information from a variety of sources, which can be especially useful for more complex queries. With AI Overview, Google wants to make it easier for users to find answers to their questions without having to search through multiple websites. The new feature is intended to increase search efficiency and improve user satisfaction with search results.

What does Google AI Overview look like?

AI Overview appears at the very top of search results, just below the search box. This is the first thing you see after entering your query, so you get the most important information right away without having to scroll down the page. This placement makes AI-generated responses highly visible and easily accessible. AI Overview contains condensed answers to user questions that are collected from various online sources. These answers are often short, concise and focused on providing the most relevant information, allowing users to quickly understand the topic.

This allows you to get the information you need without having to search through multiple sites. Google AI Overview often includes links to the sources from which the AI ​​drew its information. These links are clickable, allowing users to go to the original web pages for more detailed information. Thanks to this, even though the answers are condensed, you can deepen your knowledge by clicking on the sources. In some cases, there is a "Show more" option that allows you to see additional details and a full list of where the information comes from. This expansion is especially useful when you need a more comprehensive understanding of a topic or want to verify sources of information. The AI ​​Overview design is integrated with the rest of the search results page, but stands out with a simple, clean layout. Answers are usually in text form, sometimes enhanced with images or other media that help better understand the topic.

Thanks to this, even complex information is presented in an easy-to-digest manner. AI Overview is designed to help users quickly find answers to their questions without having to browse multiple websites. This is intended to increase search efficiency and user satisfaction by providing quick access to the most important information. This feature is especially useful for more complex queries where traditional search results may require more time to crawl and analyze.

Is it possible to turn off Google AI Overview?

Unfortunately, there is no way to completely disable Google AI Overview in search results. This feature is now built into the default search results page and cannot be directly disabled in your Google account settings. However, there are two ways that can help you avoid seeing AI Overviews: Manually change your search results view: After entering your query and seeing AI Overview at the top of the results, you can click the "More" tab (located next to options like "Images", "Video ", "Shopping") and then select "Web".

This will allow you to see search results in the traditional format, containing only links to websites. Installing a browser plug-in: You can install a browser extension that automatically switches the search results view to one that only displays links to websites. Such extensions are available for Chrome, Vivaldi and Firefox browsers. Other browsers may also receive similar plug-ins soon. While these methods don't completely disable AI Overview, they can help you get search results in a traditional format, which may be preferred by some users.

How will Google AI Overview impact business?

The introduction of Google AI Overview can significantly impact your business, especially in the context of organic traffic and search engine visibility. Early testing indicates that AI Overview can lead to an 18-64% drop in organic website traffic, especially if your content focuses on informational queries. This will definitely affect the positioning of your website and will require changes in your approach to SEO. Users can get the information they need directly from AI Overview instead of clicking on traditional website links, which means fewer visits to your website.

However, there is also a good side to this coin. Even though overall traffic is down, the clicks you receive may be more valuable. Users will be more likely to visit pages that actually meet their needs, as Google has noted that AI Overview can lead to higher quality clicks on pages. This means that visitors who click on your link will be more interested in your content and more engaged. The introduction of AI Overview is also an opportunity to increase the visibility of your website if your content is included in these summaries. So prepare for this change by focusing on creating valuable, well-optimized content and tracking how changes in traffic impact your business.

What will ads look like in Google AI Overview?

Google AI Overview ads are not directly affected by the new feature, at least initially. In Beta testing, Google Ads still appears above and below AI Overview. This means that ads will appear in the same places as before, but it's possible that you'll see them surrounding the new AI section. It can be assumed that Google will promote the use of Performance Max (PMax) campaigns in the context of AI Overview. PMax allows for a more flexible and dynamic approach to displaying ads, using a variety of assets such as images, text and video without the need for precise keyword targeting. Therefore, ads will be more relevant to a wide range of user queries.

While it's not yet clear how exactly ads will be integrated with AI Overview, you can expect Google to test different approaches. Ads can appear in the form of cards with product information, reviews or locations, just like in current search results. For example, for shopping-related queries, AI Overview may include product recommendations that will come from Google Merchant Center. Ultimately, ads will continue to be a key part of search results, but the way they are presented may evolve as Google refines its AI Overview. You can expect that your ads will remain visible and an integral part of your search experience, even though the format and placement may change.

Is it worth being interested in Google AI Overview right now in a business context?

Yes, it is definitely worth taking an interest in Google AI Overview now, in a business context. This new feature in Google Search could significantly impact the way users find and consume information. AI Overview appears at the very top of search results. Thanks to this, the content included in these summaries has a greater chance of reaching users. If your site appears frequently in AI Overview, you can gain visibility and authority. While AI Overview may reduce overall website traffic, the clicks you receive may be more valuable. Users who decide to visit your website after seeing AI Overview are more engaged and interested in your offer. Adapting to new technologies and trends is crucial to maintaining competitiveness. Starting to optimize your content for AI Overview will help you stay ahead of the competition and be better prepared for future changes in search algorithms.

AI Overview is changing the way users consume content. Understanding how this feature works and how you can optimize your content to be included can help you better align your SEO and marketing strategy. Although AI Overview ads are still in the testing phase, it is worth following their development. Adapting to new advertising formats may bring benefits in the future as Google fully integrates AI Overview into its advertising system. To sum up, Google AI Overview is a feature that already has great potential to impact your business. Being prepared for its implementation can bring you benefits in the form of greater visibility, user engagement and better adaptation to changes in the search engine ecosystem.