Google AI Overviews (formerly known as Search Generative Experience or SGE) is now rolled out in over 100 countries. Over time, it is expected that this new SERP feature will be rolled out in all countries where Google is present—yes, even in the EU where rollout has been much slower, probably due to stricter data privacy regulations.
AI Overviews is now a core Google Search feature and is here to stay. As its impact grows, more businesses and SEOs are seeking ways to track and improve their visibility in AI-generated summaries.
What are AI Overviews?
AI Overviews are AI-generated summaries in search results that were initially introduced by Google in May 2023. Originally rolled out in the US, it is now present in many different countries.
According to Google’s documentation, “AI Overviews offer a preview of a topic or query based on a variety of sources, including web sources.” This means that AI Overviews synthesizes information from multiple sources to provide a concise, comprehensive answer to queries, including citations to original sources.
AI Overviews do not replace the traditional organic search result links, but instead appear above them.
Do AI Overviews appear for all searches?
No, AI Overviews do not appear for all searches. Their appearance can vary widely from one search to the next, and the latest data seems to suggest that AI Overviews appear for 47% of Google Searches.
Research indicates AI Overviews appear more frequently for longer queries (five words or more), specific industry-related searches and informational queries.
It is expected that as Google continues to roll out AI Overviews, their presence in search results will increase. The range of topics and query types covered will likely expand, and the accuracy of responses should improve as the AI model is refined. As users become more familiar with this feature, its usage is likely to grow. In response, SEO professionals will likely adapt their strategies to optimize content for inclusion in AI Overviews.
Why you should care about tracking AI Overviews
While the nature of how Google displays top results has evolved with AI Overviews, tracking keywords remains crucial for SEO success. To improve performance, you must first be able to measure it; to measure, you must be able to track, and this is especially true for Google AI Overviews. Here are a few reasons why you should care about tracking AI Overviews:
- Screen real estate: AI Overviews occupy a significant portion of the search results page, often pushing traditional organic search results further down.
- Google has indicated that AI Overviews are a core search feature and will remain part of the search experience. Like it or not, they’re here to stay!
- Expanding reach: As Google continues to roll out AI Overviews globally and across more queries, their presence and impact on search results will grow significantly. Tracking this evolving SERP feature allows you to gain insights into ranking factors and optimize your content accordingly. This proactive approach positions you to capitalize on AI Overviews’ expansion into new markets, potentially giving you a competitive edge in international SEO efforts.
- Boost clicks: By understanding which keywords trigger AI Overviews, you can target specific keywords that do not trigger these summaries. This strategy can potentially increase clicks to your website, as AI Overviews often lead to more zero-click searches where users find all the information they need directly in the overview without visiting any websites.
How Google Search Console Reports on AI Overviews
Google Search Console does not report specifically on the appearance of websites in AI Overviews. This makes tracking AI challenging, as there are no built-in tools or reports that directly measure a site’s performance in these summaries. SEO professionals and website owners must therefore rely on alternative methods and third-party tools to monitor and analyze their presence in AI Overviews.
Why dedicated AI rank trackers are better to use
Dedicated AI rank trackers offer significant advantages for monitoring AI Overviews. These specialized tools provide more accurate and comprehensive data on AI-generated content in search results. They can track a wide range of keywords, monitor your website’s presence across different queries, and often allow for competitive analysis. With detailed reporting and timely updates, these tools enable you to make informed decisions to improve your performance in AI Overviews.
There are multiple tools that you can use to track AI Overviews, including Keyword.com, Ahrefs, Semrush SE Ranking, Advanced Web Ranking and Ziptie.
How to track AI Overviews with Keyword.com
Keyword.com is a Google rank tracker that can track both the appearance and performance of AI Overviews for your keywords.
The AI Overview Tracker allows you to monitor your content’s visibility in AI-generated summaries through the SERP Features column, which displays an icon indicating the presence of an AI Overview for a specific keyword.
You can also view the source URL included in these summaries by hovering over the icon. This provides granular insight into which of your pages are being referenced and the specific content fragment that is being sourced by AI Overviews.
Additionally, Keyword.com provides a SERP Feature Performance report that tracks AI Overview appearances over time. This report shows the total number of AI Overview occurrences for your keywords and how often your content is featured. By monitoring this data, you can assess your visibility in AI-generated summaries, compare it to other SERP features, and identify opportunities to improve your content’s performance in AI Overviews.
Final thoughts
Tracking AI Overviews is becoming increasingly important for SEO success as Google continues to expand this feature. While traditional ranking factors still matter, optimizing for inclusion in AI-generated summaries presents a new opportunity to increase visibility and drive traffic.
Dedicated AI rank tracking tools like Keyword.com offer valuable insights that can help you refine your content strategy and improve performance in AI Overviews. By monitoring which keywords trigger these summaries and how often your content is featured, you can make data-driven decisions to enhance your SEO efforts.
As AI continues to shape the search landscape, staying ahead of these trends will be crucial for maintaining and improving your online presence. Start tracking AI Overviews today to gain a competitive edge in the evolving world of search.
To begin monitoring your performance in AI Overviews, try Keyword.com’s 14-day free trial.