Google AI Overviews

Google AI Overviews (formerly Search Generative Experience or SGE) are AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of Google search results. They provide synthesized answers to user queries, often citing multiple sources within the response.

How AI Overviews Work:

1. User enters a query
2. Google determines if AI Overview is appropriate
3. LLM generates a summary using indexed content
4. Sources are cited with expandable links
5. Traditional search results appear below

When AI Overviews Appear:

• Complex informational queries
• Multi-step how-to questions
• Comparison and analysis queries
• Some commercial intent queries

Key Characteristics:

• Uses Google's Gemini model
• Draws from indexed web content
• Includes inline citations
• Expandable for more detail
• May include images and tables

Impact on SEO and GEO:

• Top organic results may get less visibility
• Being cited in AI Overview is valuable
• Traditional ranking still matters
• Structured content more likely cited
• E-E-A-T signals influence selection

Optimizing for AI Overviews:

• Continue traditional SEO practices
• Create comprehensive, expert content
• Use structured formatting (lists, tables)
• Include schema markup
• Answer questions directly
• Maintain fast, mobile-friendly pages

AI Overviews represent a fundamental shift in how Google presents information, making GEO optimization essential for maintaining search visibility.