Frequently Asked Questions

Google AI Overview (formerly SGE - Search Generative Experience) is an AI-generated summary that appears at the top of some Google search results. It uses large language models to synthesize information from multiple web sources and provide a direct answer to user queries.

Google began testing AI Overviews (as SGE) in May 2023 through Search Labs. It rolled out more broadly to US users in May 2024 and has been expanding to other countries since then. As of 2026, AI Overviews appear for a significant percentage of search queries worldwide.

AI Overviews most commonly appear for informational queries like "how to," "what is," and educational content. They are less common for transactional queries (buying intent), navigational queries (looking for a specific website), and highly specific commercial queries. Our data shows approximately 50-65% of informational keywords trigger AI Overviews.

Currently, there is no official way to completely disable AI Overviews as a user. You can sometimes click "Show more" to see traditional results first, or use Google's "Web" filter to see only traditional blue links. Some browser extensions also attempt to hide AI Overviews.

AI Overviews can significantly reduce organic traffic by providing answers directly in search results. Studies and industry data show that AI Overviews can reduce click-through rates by 30-60% for affected keywords, as users often get their answers without visiting source websites.

Industries that rely heavily on informational content are most affected, including: health and medical sites, how-to and tutorial sites, educational content, recipe sites, and B2B software with educational blogs. E-commerce product pages and transactional content are less affected.

No. AI Overviews disproportionately affect informational keywords. Based on our data, informational queries see AI Overviews 50-70% of the time, while commercial queries see them 20-35% of the time. Navigational and transactional queries are least affected (under 15%).

Not necessarily. Google continues to refine AI Overviews, and the feature's prevalence fluctuates. Additionally, being cited as a source in AI Overviews can actually drive traffic. The key is adapting your content strategy to get cited rather than summarized.

Our tool analyzes your domain's top ranking keywords and checks each one for AI Overview presence. We use DataForSEO's SERP data to detect whether Google shows an AI Overview for each keyword, then calculate your overall exposure rate and identify which specific keywords are affected.

Yes, the basic scan is completely free with no signup required. You can check any domain and see your top 5 keywords with AI Overview status. For a full report with all keywords, risk analysis, and export options, you can request a detailed report via email.

AI Overview presence can change as Google updates its algorithms. We recommend checking monthly for ongoing monitoring, or immediately after publishing new content or making significant SEO changes. Our full reports include historical tracking to show changes over time.

Risk level indicates how likely a keyword is to consistently show AI Overviews. High risk means AI Overviews appear consistently (detected in most scans). Medium risk means intermittent appearance. Low risk means rarely or never detected. This helps you prioritize which keywords to focus on.

Yes. On the full report page, you can export your keyword data as a CSV file for analysis in spreadsheets. You can also embed a badge showing your AI Overview impact score on your website.

You can use the "nosnippet" meta tag to prevent Google from using your content in featured snippets and potentially AI Overviews. However, this may also negatively affect your regular search appearance. There is no specific opt-out for AI Overviews alone.

To increase citation chances: structure content with clear H2/H3 headers, use schema markup (FAQ, HowTo), provide direct answers in the first paragraph, include authoritative data and statistics, and ensure comprehensive yet well-organized content. Being an authoritative source in your niche also helps.

Use the "inverted pyramid" structure: answer the main question directly in the first 1-2 sentences, then expand with supporting details. Use clear headers for each sub-topic, include bulleted lists for steps or features, and add relevant data or statistics. Schema markup (especially FAQ and HowTo) significantly improves citation chances.

No. While informational content is more affected by AI Overviews, it still plays a crucial role in SEO for building topical authority, capturing top-of-funnel traffic, and getting cited in AI Overviews (which can drive traffic). The strategy should shift from "ranking #1" to "being the cited source."