Google AI Overviews Only Show for 7% of Queries

Google's AI Overviews, part of its Search Generative Experience (SGE), now appear in less than 7% of search queries, marking a significant drop. This decline began in mid-April when the visibility of AI Overviews decreased from covering 65% of search results to only 25%. After the official rollout at Google I/O in May, the presence of AI Overviews was reduced further.

Significant Visibility Drops in Key Areas

The decrease in visibility has been particularly notable in several key industries:

• Education Queries: Dropped from 26% to 13%.
• Entertainment Queries: Fell from 14% to nearly 0%.
• Ecommerce Queries: Decreased from 26% to 9%.

Reasons for the Decline

One of the main reasons for the reduction in AI Overviews is the occurrence of incorrect and sometimes dangerous AI-generated answers. For instance, Google suggested harmful actions, such as drinking urine or eating rocks. This led Google to commit to improving the accuracy and reliability of its AI responses.

Changes in Content and Presentation

• Shrinking Real Estate: AI Overviews now occupy 13% less pixel space on search result pages compared to earlier versions.
• Less Duplication: There is a noticeable reduction in the overlap of sources cited in both AI Overviews and Classic Search results. This aligns with Google's strategy to let AI handle follow-up questions, reducing redundancy​ (BrightEdge)​​ (Search Engine Land)​.

Impact on User-Generated Content

Websites like Reddit and Quora have seen a dramatic decrease in citations within AI Overviews, with reductions of 85.71% and 99.69%, respectively. Google appears to be prioritizing more reliable sources over user-generated content​ (MediaPost)​.

Trends in Search Query Patterns

Certain types of queries are more likely to trigger AI Overviews:

• Increased Triggers: Queries starting with "best," "what is," "how to," and "symptoms of" have seen an increase in triggering AI Overviews.
• Decreased Triggers: Queries involving "vs," brand-specific searches, general product searches, and lifestyle-related queries are less likely to trigger AI Overviews​ (Search Engine Land)​.

Future of AI Overviews

Despite the current reduction in visibility, Google has indicated that AI Overviews will continue to evolve and improve. The goal is to refine the technology to provide more accurate and useful information, ultimately enhancing the search experience without compromising on reliability​.