The Google Search Console AI Overview update is one of the most significant changes to SEO tracking in recent years. As Google continues integrating artificial intelligence into search, the way we view performance data in Google Search Console has changed forever. Starting from June 2024, Google has begun including traffic from AI Overviews (previously known as Search Generative Experience or SGE) into the “Web” search type in your performance reports.
This update has critical implications for SEO professionals, digital marketers, and website owners who rely on Google Search Console to measure organic traffic performance accurately.
Table of Contents
What Is the Google Search Console AI Overview Update?
The Google Search Console AI Overview update refers to Google’s decision to count clicks and impressions from AI-powered results—like AI-generated summaries and answers—as part of the existing “Web” category in Search Console.
Before this change, traffic from AI Overviews was either excluded or not clearly reported. Now, AI Overview clicks are fully integrated into Web search metrics, but there’s a catch: there’s no separate label, filter, or reporting option that lets you see which clicks came from AI Overviews and which came from traditional organic results.
This blending of traffic has led to significant confusion among SEOs, as it makes performance tracking less transparent.
How the Update Impacts SEO Reporting
The Google Search Console AI Overview update significantly affects how you interpret data:
- You can no longer distinguish between AI Overview clicks and traditional search result clicks.
- Pages may show an increase in clicks or impressions, but the source of that growth remains unclear.
- Metrics like click-through rate (CTR) and average position may be skewed, especially for content that appears prominently in AI-generated boxes but not in traditional rankings.
As a result, many SEO analysts are now rethinking how they report on performance and justify ROI.
Why Google Made This Change
Google claims that traffic from AI Overviews could be “higher quality”, meaning users are more engaged or further along in their decision-making process. However, since there’s no breakdown provided, there’s no way to verify this claim at scale.
The Google Search Console AI Overview update aligns with Google’s broader push to integrate generative AI into the search experience. These AI snapshots aim to provide users with quick, concise answers, which often means fewer clicks to traditional blue-link listings.
Google likely merged this data into Web traffic to simplify reporting, but for marketers, it’s created a blind spot.
How to Adapt Your SEO Strategy
Here’s how to adjust your SEO and analytics practices in light of the Google Search Console AI Overview update:
1. Monitor Unusual Spikes:- Pay close attention to sudden increases or decreases in traffic, especially on pages that don’t rank in the top 3 positions. These could be influenced by AI Overviews.
2. Use GA4 and Heatmaps:- Since Search Console can’t separate AI traffic, tools like Google Analytics 4, Hotjar, or Microsoft Clarity can help you assess user behavior post-click — bounce rates, scroll depth, time on site, etc.
3. Optimize for AI Overview Inclusion:- To appear in AI Overviews:
- Use clear, concise answers in your content.
- Structure content using headings, bullet points, and FAQs.
- Focus on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness).
4. Bookmark Official Google Documentation:- Google has updated its official Search Console documentation to confirm that AI Mode traffic is now part of the “Web” data. However, there’s no dedicated report for it (yet).
Read this also:- Best Digital Marketing Services in Bareilly
Limitations and Concerns
The Google Search Console AI Overview update has been met with mixed reactions from the SEO community. While some welcome the inclusion of AI data, most experts agree that the lack of transparency is a major issue. Not knowing which content benefited from AI vs. organic makes it harder to optimize effectively.
Moreover, since AI Overviews might replace or suppress traditional listings, some sites could lose visibility even if traffic appears stable due to blended reporting.
Conclusion: A New Era of Search Analytics
The Google Search Console AI Overview update marks the beginning of a new era for SEO. With AI playing a bigger role in how search results are displayed and interacted with, digital marketers must evolve — not only in content creation but also in how performance is tracked and analyzed.
This update is a reminder that SEO is no longer just about ranking #1. It’s about understanding how and where your content is surfaced, even when it’s through an AI-generated summary.
One thought on “Google Search Console AI Overview Update: What SEOs Must Know in 2025”