The AI Overviews in Google Search will show source websites to the right, and a new experiment is also adding links directly in the text.
Google is once again redefining the search experience with updates to its AI-generated search summaries. The company is introducing a revamped way of displaying citations within these summaries, aiming to enhance user interaction and trust. Previously, relevant webpages were embedded directly within the AI-generated text, but the new design shifts these citations to a more prominent position on the right-hand side of the response. This change is part of Google’s ongoing efforts to refine the way users interact with AI in search.
This updated citation format is rolling out today and will also be available on mobile devices. When users select the site icons that now appear in the top-right corner of the AI Overview, they will see the cited webpages displayed prominently. Hema Budaraju, Google’s senior director of product management for Search, explained to The Verge, “We are leveraging the right-hand-side space to make the links to the AI Overview more visible, enabling users to easily navigate to the content that interests them.” Importantly, traditional search results will continue to appear beneath the AI Overview, offering users multiple ways to explore information.
In addition to this layout change, Google is testing the integration of clickable links directly within the text of AI Overviews. Users will be able to click on linked text to visit relevant websites, in addition to exploring the webpages highlighted in the new right-side display. According to Google, early testing of these features has yielded “positive” results, with an increase in traffic directed to publisher sites—an encouraging sign for content creators.
Google is also rolling out new features to enhance the usability of AI Overviews through its Search Labs. One of these features allows users to save an AI Overview, making it easy to revisit the summary during subsequent searches. Saved AI Overviews will be stored on the user’s Interests page, providing a personalized search experience. Another new feature, previously previewed by Google, introduces a button that simplifies some AI Overviews for easier comprehension. Both features are available as part of the “AI Overviews and more” experiment in Search Labs for English queries within the US.
After launching AI Overviews in the US back in May, Google is now expanding the feature to six additional countries: the UK, India, Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, and Brazil. The rollout begins today, with AI-generated search summaries available in the local languages of each country. The initial US launch had its share of hiccups, with some users receiving bizarre advice like applying glue to pizza to keep the cheese in place or consuming rocks. Google has since corrected these errors and has manually removed certain problematic responses.
When questioned about measures to prevent similar issues from arising in other countries and languages, Budaraju emphasized that Google employs “rigorous evaluation processes and extensive adversarial testing in every market.” She added, “Quality and safety are integral to the design of AI Overviews.”
Budaraju also reflected on the complexity of search, stating, “There isn’t a singular approach that can answer every question people have at scale across the globe, but we are committed to learning and listening actively.”
With these updates, Google continues to innovate and refine its AI-driven search capabilities, demonstrating a commitment to improving user experience while ensuring the accuracy and reliability of its AI-generated content.
