Google has announced a significant update to its AI-generated search summaries, known as AI Overviews, with a focus on improving how sources are displayed and cited. This change aims to provide users with a clearer understanding of where information comes from and to drive more traffic to publisher websites.
New Right-Side Display for Citations
The most notable change is the introduction of a new display on the right side of the AI Overview. This feature prominently showcases the webpages cited in the AI-generated summary. Users can access this new display on mobile devices by tapping the site icons in the top-right corner of the AI Overview.
Clickable Links Within Summaries
Google is also testing the inclusion of clickable links within the text of AI Overviews. This feature allows users to navigate directly to relevant websites, providing an additional way to access source material beyond the new right-side display. Early tests have shown promising results in increasing traffic to publisher sites.
Additional Features and Expanded Availability
Other new features for AI Overviews include:
- The ability to save summaries for later reference
- A button to simplify some AI Overviews
These features are currently available in the "AI Overviews and more" experiment in Search Labs for English queries in the United States.
Google is also expanding the availability of AI Overviews beyond the US. The feature is now rolling out to users in the United Kingdom, India, Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, and Brazil, with support for local languages in each country.
Impact on Search Results
It's worth noting that Google will continue to display regular search results below the AI Overview. This approach maintains the familiar search experience while integrating the new AI-powered summaries.
As these changes roll out, users can expect a more transparent and interactive experience with AI-generated search summaries, making it easier to explore and verify information sources.