Guides 2 min read
What Are Google AI Overviews and How to Appear in Them
AI Overviews are summaries Google writes with AI above search results. See how they work, what they mean for traffic and how to appear as a source.
In this article
AI Overviews are summaries Google writes using AI and shows above the classic search results. Instead of ten links, people first see an answer, with links to the pages it was built from.
How AI Overviews work
When Google decides a summary can help, its model reads several pages and writes a short answer. It shows the sources alongside the answer, usually as cards or links next to the text. A summary does not appear for every search, more often for questions and complex queries than for short searches with a business name.
What this means for your business
- Informational questions get fewer clicks. If someone asks “what is remarketing”, the summary is often enough.
- Sources gain visibility. A page cited in the summary appears at the very top, above all classic results.
- Searches with buying intent still lead to websites. People looking for a service in their city still choose a business, call and send enquiries.
How to appear as a source
In its guidance on AI features in Search, Google says there are no special tricks: the same foundations apply as for classic results. In practice these help:
- An indexed, technically sound page. Without that there are no classic results either. See technical SEO.
- A direct answer at the start. One or two sentences that answer the question, then the details.
- Clear structure. Question style subheadings, lists, tables and FAQs.
- Accurate, concrete data. Numbers, ranges, timeframes and examples.
- A recognisable author and business. Who writes and why they can be trusted.
This is also called AEO optimization, and the related work for ChatGPT and other AI tools is GEO optimization.
How to track it
Google Search Console counts impressions and clicks from AI Overviews in the overall search numbers. It is useful to watch whether clicks on informational pages change and to check manually whether your page appears as a source for important questions.
I prepare pages for AI Overviews and AI tools in the AI visibility service. See also what is Google AI Mode.
Frequently asked questions
What are AI Overviews?
AI Overviews are summaries Google writes using AI and shows above the classic results. Alongside the summary it links to the pages it took the information from.
Do AI Overviews reduce website traffic?
For simple informational questions people click less because they see the answer straight away. Pages cited as a source gain visibility, and searches with buying intent still lead to business websites.
How do I appear in AI Overviews?
Google says the same foundations apply as for classic results: the page must be indexed, helpful and technically sound. Clear answers to questions, accurate data and good text structure help.
About the author
Matija Terzić
I am the founder of VRH Agency from Rijeka. I run the whole marketing for businesses, from ads and SEO to websites and automation, so they win more clients and more profit, and I write about it from my everyday work with clients.
More about me
