Glossaire
Google AI Overviews
AI-generated summaries displayed at the top of Google results, synthesising information from multiple sources to answer queries directly on the search page.
Definition
Google AI Overviews (previously called SGE — Search Generative Experience) are AI-generated summaries that appear at the very top of Google's search results page, above organic results and paid ads. They synthesise content from multiple web sources to provide a direct answer to a query, reducing or eliminating the need to click through to a website.
Launched in the US in May 2024 and rolled out to the UK and other major markets in 2025, AI Overviews now appear on a significant and growing proportion of informational search queries.
Impact on SEO
AI Overviews have two primary effects on search traffic:
- Click-through rate reduction: When Google answers the question directly, users have less reason to click. Studies report CTR drops of 20–60% on queries where AIOs appear.
- Source citation opportunity: Pages cited as sources within an AIO gain visibility — the brand is seen by users even without a click. This is a new form of top-of-funnel awareness.
How to Optimise for AI Overviews
- Answer first: Place the direct answer to the target question in the first 2–3 sentences of each page or section
- Use structured formats: Short paragraphs, bullet points, numbered lists, tables, FAQ sections
- Include factual claims: Numbers, dates, specific examples — not vague generalisations
- Add FAQ sections: These are disproportionately cited in AI Overviews
- Build topical depth: Sites covering a topic across multiple pages are cited more frequently than single-article sites
Monitoring
Google Search Console shows which pages appear in AI Overview sources (under the "Search appearance" filter). Third-party tools like SE Ranking and BrightEdge have added AIO tracking features.