AI Overviews

Google shows an AI Overview only when its systems judge that it adds something to the classic results, so many searches don't get one. When a customer asks a question in your field, such as how long a physiotherapy session lasts, the overview may answer at the top and link the pages it drew on. Your page can be one of those links.

Google says there are no extra requirements and no special optimization for AI Overviews. A page needs to be indexed and eligible to show in Google with a snippet, and the usual SEO basics still apply. Why some pages get cited in AI answers and others don't is covered in our guide on what GEO is.

1. Check the page is indexed: paste its address into URL Inspection in Search Console.
2. Make sure nothing blocks snippets. The nosnippet, data-nosnippet, max-snippet and noindex controls limit what Google shows from your page, in AI features too.
3. Put your answers in plain text on the page, not only inside images, and keep your Business Profile up to date. Google lists both among the basics.
4. Measure in the Search Console Performance report: visits from AI Overviews are counted with the rest of your Google traffic, under the Web search type.

• You need a special AI file or markup. Google says no new machine readable files, AI text files or special structured data are needed.
• AI Overviews are always right. Google's own help page says they can and will make mistakes. If one gets your business wrong, send feedback from the overview itself.