Google has pushed back against a recent study claiming a significant drop in the appearance of AI Overviews in search results. The study, conducted by enterprise SEO platform BrightEdge and reported by Search Engine Land, suggested that AI Overviews fell from 11% to 7% of queries between June 1 and June 30.
Google spokesperson Ashley Thompson told The Verge that these findings “do not reflect what we’ve seen” and criticized the study’s methodology. Thompson pointed out that the BrightEdge study appears to mix data from users who have opted into “AI Overviews & More” through Google’s experimental Search Labs and those who haven’t.
“We designed AI Overviews to appear for queries where they’re helpful and provide value beyond existing features on the results page, and they continue to show for a large number of searches,” Thompson stated. She added that Google is “continuing to refine when and how we show AI Overviews so they’re as useful as possible, including a number of recent technical updates to improve response quality.”
The BrightEdge study also claimed a dramatic decrease in citations from user-generated content sites like Reddit and Quora in AI Overviews. This aligns with Google’s previously announced efforts to limit the use of user-generated content in AI Overviews and improve detection of queries that shouldn’t trigger AI-generated responses.
While Google acknowledges ongoing refinements to AI Overviews, the company maintains a positive outlook on their performance and user reception. CEO Sundar Pichai had previously stated that people “are responding very positively to AI Overviews” in a May interview.
As the search giant continues to fine-tune its AI-powered features, the debate over their prevalence and effectiveness in search results is likely to persist. With competing AI search tools emerging from companies like Microsoft, OpenAI, and Perplexity, Google’s management of AI Overviews remains a critical focus for the company’s future in the search market.
Nevertheless, if you’re looking to get rid of AI Overviews from your Google Search experience, check out our detailed guide on how to do so by heading here.
Dwayne Cubbins
400 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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