Smarter Searching with Google AI Overviews

Google AI Overviews is a feature of Google Search that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to provide comprehensive summaries on the topics users are searching for. Let’s explore AI Overviews and its impact on the SERP in the following article.

What is Google AI Overviews?

Google AI Overviews is a feature of Google Search that uses AI to offer users comprehensive summaries and information on search topics. Officially launched on May 14, 2024, after initial testing in Google Labs, AI Overviews gathers information from various sources instead of just displaying a list of links. It then presents this information in an easy-to-understand manner, giving users a quick overview of the topic they are interested in.

Currently, AI Overviews is only available to users in the United States, with plans to expand to other regions. Users in Vietnam can try AI Overviews by using a VPN to switch their region to the U.S. and then accessing Google AI Labs for a trial experience.

Data Sources for Google AI Overviews

Google AI Overviews combines the Gemini model with search algorithms to automatically determine data sources in the AI-generated summary. Google has noted that following platform guidelines for higher search rankings can help content creators' links become part of the AI Overview. This suggests that Google uses the same algorithms to decide which websites should be displayed first when AI selects data sources. These sources include:

• Top Search Results: AI Overviews typically draw information from the first results appearing in search.
• Clearly Linked Sources: The sources used by AI include specific content from websites on Google. These links are also listed in the summary for further exploration or verification.

Why is Google AI’s Summarized Overview Important?

The AI-powered overview offers more than just a search feature. Users can ask anything from research questions to planning and idea generation. This feature is powered by a new model, combining the advanced capabilities of Gemini with Google's leading search system.

• Quick and Efficient: AI Overviews provide concise answers by summarizing the best information available online. It saves time and gives users the necessary answers in just a few seconds.
• Handling Complex Questions: For complex questions, instead of breaking them down and accessing multiple sources to find the answer, you can ask Google AI Overviews directly with a single search. Multi-step reasoning capabilities will soon be available in AI Overviews at Search Labs for English queries in the U.S.
• Planning Ahead: Besides finding the right answers or information for a complex query, Google AI Overviews integrated with Google Search can also assist with planning. For example, when searching for "create a 3-day meal plan for a group that's easy to prepare," Google AI Overviews will return the plan. You can easily adjust it or request modifications and export the answer to Google Docs or Gmail.
• Diverse Information Formats: In addition to text, AI Overviews may include images, videos, and other formats to enhance the user experience.
• Easy Access to Source Websites: Users can easily access reputable information sources for further exploration if desired. This helps users discover more websites for complex questions and increases click-through rates on links.
• Video-Based Search: Searching is no longer just about typing keywords into a text box. With Google AI Overviews, image searches can be enhanced into video format. This feature will soon be available to Search Labs users in English in the U.S., with plans to expand to other regions.

How Does Google AI Overviews Impact SEO?

AI Overviews create opportunities for websites to focus on producing high-quality, useful, and unique content. Additionally, technical optimization, such as improving page load speed and URL structure, helps websites be rated higher by Google. Building a strong and reputable brand will increase the credibility of your content and attract more users.

• Increased Competition: With the emergence of AI Overviews, competition on the SERP has become fiercer. Websites with high-quality, well-organized, and easy-to-understand content are more likely to generate attractive summaries and attract more clicks. To stand out, content must be unique, valuable, and not duplicated, helping your website be highly rated in Google’s summaries.
• Prioritizing Quality Content: Google AI Overviews prioritize websites that provide in-depth, detailed, and reliable content. To meet this requirement, content should be logically organized, easy to read, and easy to understand, ensuring users can quickly find the information they need.
• Page Load Speed: Page load speed is an important factor in ranking a website. Google will prioritize faster-loading pages, providing a better user experience and increasing the chances of ranking higher in search results.
• User Interaction: Click-through rate (CTR) and dwell time are positive signals indicating that your content is engaging and useful. High CTR and longer user stay times can help improve your website's SEO ranking and increase the chances of being used as a data source by Google AI Overview.

Optimization Strategy for AI Overviews in Google Search

Google AI Overviews is a powerful tool that can be used to improve SEO. However, it is important to use them strategically and be aware of their potential negative impact on website traffic. Here are some things to keep in mind when optimizing for Google AI Overviews’ impact on SEO.

1. Create Specific Content for Your Website

Creating specific and detailed content is crucial for success with AI Overviews. Writing comprehensive, topic-specific content that fully answers user queries will help Google recognize the credibility and relevance of your website's content. Presenting personal experience and expertise can also enhance the trustworthiness of your content, making it more likely to appear in AI Overviews.

2. Focus on Topics Instead of Keywords

To succeed in SEO for AI Overview, it is important to think in terms of topics rather than individual keywords. By focusing on broader topics rather than exact keywords, businesses can help Google connect their website content with related concepts. This helps search engines better understand the context and relevance of the article’s content, improving the chances of appearing in AI Overviews.

3. Link to Reliable Sources

In the future, it’s likely that much content will be generated by AI. Links in natural search rankings will become even more important. Backlinks are a key measure of trustworthiness, and they will be crucial in such situations. Websites with backlinks from reputable and relevant sources will stand out as trustworthy sources amid a sea of AI-generated content.

Furthermore, the impact of Google AI Overviews on the SERP should not be overlooked. Specifically, as Google AI Overviews and snippets dominate SERPs, the importance of internal linking within websites will also increase. Effective internal linking can help search engines understand your website’s content. By strategically linking related content, businesses can enhance user experience and guide AI algorithms.

Google AI Overviews is expected to expand into the Vietnamese market and offer relevant suggestions based on users’ search history. AI Overviews have great potential to change how users search for information compared to traditional methods. The key question is how Google will encourage users to care about and engage with AI-generated summaries. This will be something to look forward to in the near future.