AI Overviews
The AI-generated answer Google places above the ordinary search results. It answers the query directly, which is why more searches now end without a click going anywhere, and it names the pages it drew on as sources.
What it means in practice
A study cited in the ranking article found that Google’s AI Overview cited top-10 pages 76% of the time in July 2025, and 37.9% by March 2026. Google’s own name for the wider shift is generative AI search, and AI Overviews are its most visible surface.
How we use it
Our two articles on the subject, how AI Overviews are changing SEO and why ranking on Google is not enough, set out what to track instead of a rank position. Both say an AI audit is how a site is checked against generative AI search rather than against the ranking mechanic alone.
FAQ
Questions about AI Overviews
What is an AI Overview?
An AI Overview is the AI-generated answer Google shows above the ordinary results. It answers the query directly and cites the pages it used, which is why more searches end without a click.
Do I still need to rank on Google?
Ranking still matters, but it is no longer the whole target. The ranking article reports that the share of AI Overview citations coming from top-10 pages fell from 76% to 37.9% between a July 2025 study and a March 2026 one.
What it means for a business
Being cited in an AI Overview is a different goal from ranking first. Pages written with direct answers near the top and clear structure are the ones a summarising model can lift cleanly.
Ready to put this to work?
Tell us where your team is with AI and we will tell you honestly what would make the biggest difference.