Google is testing a change to its search engine results page (SERP) where its AI (artificial intelligence)-generated answer boxes will now appear open by default.
Currently, these answer boxes appear collapsed on the results page by default, and require click action from the user to expand them.
This update removes this extra step, providing search engine users with immediate access to the information in these AI-generated summaries, directly on the results page.
These answer boxes are AI-generated snippets of text designed to anticipate follow-up questions in the context of the original search and provide a clear and concise answer.
Search engine user, Sachin Patel, shared a screen recording of his experience with this new feature on X, showcasing how this test appears in real-time.
In his search for “SEO Google”, the search engine results page displayed an AI Overview and People Also Ask featured snippet at the top.
The AI-generated answer boxes appeared below these sections, already expanded by default.
Labelled ‘Starting Guide’ and ‘How it Works’, these boxes offered additional information, relevant to the original search, all without requiring any clicks from the user.
This feature is still being tested and hasn’t been fully integrated into Google’s results page; however, if successful, this change could have a negative impact on the levels of organic traffic directed to websites from Google.
This new feature could reduce the need for users to click through to an external site from the search engine results page, as the information they’re looking for is available directly on the results page.
Curious to know how we’ve adapted our SEO (search engine optimisation) strategies in the wake of AI? Contact the friendly team at Engage Web today.
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