Google expert discusses decreasing use of AI Overviews

Luke Meredith

Google says its AI Overviews, the summaries that sometimes appear at the top of search results, are now showing up less because people weren’t always finding them helpful.

Robby Stein, a Vice President of Product at Google Search, explained in a recent CNN interview that the company studies how people interact with these summaries. If users don’t click on them or seem to find them useful, Google reduces how often they appear. Stein said the system “learns” when an AI Overview helps and when it doesn’t. For example, when people search for an athlete’s name, they usually want photos or social media links, not an AI generated summary. Since users didn’t engage with Overviews on those searches, Google stopped showing them.

Stein also revealed that Google sometimes runs extra searches behind the scenes to better understand what someone might be looking for. This can lead to pages appearing in AI Overview citations even if they don’t match the exact words typed into the search bar. The system tries to gather information that answers related questions or adds helpful context.

Google is also developing something called AI Mode, which is meant for more complicated questions that need back and forth conversation. Stein said people tend to type longer, more detailed questions when using AI Mode, and they often ask follow up questions. Instead of a simple search like “things to do in Nashville”, users might ask something much more specific, such as where to eat outdoors with a friend who has allergies and a dog.

While Google does use some personalisation, Stein said it’s limited. The company wants search results to stay mostly consistent for everyone, even though small adjustments, like showing more videos to someone who often clicks videos, are already happening.

Researchers noticed last year that AI Overviews were appearing less often than before. Stein’s explanation suggests this drop may be because users weren’t engaging with them, not because Google made a sudden major change. The system simply shows Overviews where they seem to help and hides them where they don’t.

Looking ahead, Google says AI Overviews will continue to appear only when they add value. Personalisation may grow over time, but Google plans to keep the overall experience stable for all users.

The way search engines like Google implement artificial intelligence into their products is likely to continue to evolve, meaning experts in search engine optimisation (SEO) and generative engine optimisation (GEO) must continue to adapt methods for achieving the best results online. At Engage Web, we’re on top of all these developments, and can help your website increase its SEO and GEO visibility.

About
Latest Posts

Luke Meredith

Content Editor at Engage Web

At home in both the digital sector and the world of communications, Luke thrives on deadlines and has held roles in healthcare, retail and digital marketing, gaining a sound knowledge of a wide range of sectors. He’s a massive swot as well, holding a first-class degree in BA Communication and Media, and now uses his writing skills and keen editorial eye in his role as Content Editor here. Luke helps to oversee our clients’ content requirements, while also looking after a pool of freelance writers across three continents.