Google adds AI Overviews to search results in Australia.

Google adds AI Overviews to search results in Australia.

You may have noticed a change in some of your search results on Google over the last couple of weeks. That is because Google's AI Overview feature is now live in Australia.

How did we get here?

AI Overviews was originally tested as a feature of the Google Search Engine Results Page (SERP) in May 2023 under the name  Search Generative Experience (SGE) and launched as AI Overviews in May 2024. As Google itself explains, "AI Overviews use generative AI, which is a type of artificial intelligence that learns patterns and structures from the data it is trained on and uses that to create something new". 

It goes on to warn however that "...while exciting, this technology is rapidly evolving and improving, and may provide inaccurate or offensive information". 

How does it work?

Essentially Google AI Overviews use machine learning algorithms to analyse large amounts of data from the web and then synthesise the information from multiple sources into a concise answer to a user query. The AI-generated answer is displayed at the top of the search results page. And a list of websites used to create the answer is also displayed allowing the user to dig deeper and discover a diverse range of content.  Google's systems automatically determine which links appear and of course, they are not about to give their secrets away as to exactly how these are determined. 

How will this affect SEO?

That is the big question and one that no one can definitively answer just yet. However since the AI Overview sits above the “regular” organic search results, there will be an effect on some businesses' page position for certain search queries and a consequential effect on their web traffic. But SEO will evolve as it always has in the past and changes to search results pages will create new opportunities in this space. Early indications are that  AI Overviews use some of the same ranking signals that marketers and SEO specialists have been focusing on for years which is good news for those who follow best practices. 

What about Ads?

Of course, Google would never roll out changes
without a commercial intent, and at the time of writing Sponsored Ads have just started appearing within the AI Overview section of the SERP for some queries in the US. 

Google AI Overview With Ads on Mobile

And Google is clearly excited about the additional opportunities that these features will provide to advertisers based on this recent post by GM of Search, Shashi Thakur. 

Our Thoughts

In light of stiff competition in the AI space and the potential for chatbots like ChatGPT to divert traffic away from its search engine, Google's move towards AI Generative search was inevitable. Like all changes involving emerging technologies, there will be winners, losers and a degree of turbulence. The team at Brightwell will continue to monitor developments closely and will be on hand to discuss with our clients any opportunities and threats posed by these changes. 

Book a consultation with us here!