Google Search updates AI Overviews with five new features to connect users with original sources

Google's AI Overviews will show you advice from other people now

Links to the sources will also appear next to the relevant text. I often use Google's AI Overviews to get a summary of the information I need when I run a search. But the overview itself rarely provides enough details to fully answer my question. That's why I always consult the sources used to generate the summary. With that in mind, Google has enhanced its AI Overviews with five new features designed to better flesh out the subject of your search. Sometimes when I search for information on a particular topic, I'd like to hear from other people who have knowledge or experience in that area. For example, maybe I'm looking for help on what type of food to feed my cat, given that he has a sensitive stomach. And I'd like to hear from fellow cat owners with their take on this issue. Now, AI Overviews will show you advice from other people. Appearing in a section called Expert Advice, these comments will appear as brief remarks from people via discussion forums, social media, and other online sources. Each comment will show you the name of the person or the forum and include a link that will take you to the full discussion. From there, you can read more comments about your topic and even join the discussion if you'd like. Also: How to remove AI Overviews from Google Search: 4 easy ways As one example given by Google, maybe you're trying to find out how to take the best photos of the northern lights. When you run a Google search on this subject, you might see comments from an online photography forum with advice on exposure time and other elements, along with clickable links so you can head to the full conversation. I rely on certain favorite news sources, such as ZDNET, that I'd like to consult in a Google search. But those sources aren't always easily accessible from the AI Overview. To remedy that obstacle, Google will now highlight links to your news subscriptions directly in AI Mode and AI Overviews. You can then easily click the link to the news source to view the full story to better answer your question. Also: Sick of AI in Search? These 7 Google alternatives still put links first Running early tests on this feature, Google said that people were significantly more likely to click links that were labeled as their subscriptions. Publishers who want to help their subscribers access their stories in a Google AI search can head to the Subscription Linking page to set this up. AI can make mistakes. That's another reason I always consult the original sources used in a Google AI Overview. But those sources aren't always easy to see or access. To help you view the right sources, Google will now include links to them directly next to the relevant text in the AI summary. Also: Use Google AI Overview for health advice? It's 'really dangerous,' investigation finds As one example from Google, maybe you're searching for information about going on a bike-riding trip through California. In response, the AI Overview displays a series of bullet points with details about such a trip. With the latest update, the summary might now add a link to a Pacific Coast bike touring guide next to the bullet point about terrain or a link to a blog post about bike ride training next to the bullet point about daily mileage. Beyond viewing the original sources used to generate the AI Overview, I sometimes would like to access even more original sources on the subject. Toward that end, Google is adding a new section with suggestions on other sites to consult. Appearing below the AI summary, this section will contain links to articles or analyses on different aspects of the same topic. Also: You can turn off Gemini in Gmail, Photos, Chrome, and more - here's how For example, maybe you're investigating how cities are adding more green spaces to their environments. Below the AI summary might be a case study on how Seoul is successfully restoring its streams or a report on how architects designed New York City's High Line park. Google's AI Overviews typically include links to relevant websites. But you have to click the actual link to find out what the site offers. Now, Google will display a quick preview of a website when you hover over its link. The preview will show you the name or title of the site so that you can better judge whether it's worth visiting. I know that I'm sometimes hesitant about clicking a link to a site without knowing where it will take me. The preview is designed to help people feel more comfortable about visiting sites linked in the AI Overview. Also: I tested ChatGPT Plus vs. Gemini Pro to see which is better - and if it's worth switching "We're continuing to enhance how we show and rank links in our generative AI Search experiences and using techniques like query fan-out, which helps us dive deeper into the web to find the most relevant sites for your search," Google said in its blog post about the latest enhancements. "By improving the visibility and helpfulness of links and showcasing original voices, we're building AI in Search to help you discover the richness of the web, connecting you directly with the sources and creators you're looking for."

Google adds more deep-dive potential to Search topics in AI Overviews

AI is growing smarter, more powerful, and even more helpful by the day -- so much so that Google has updated AI Mode and AI Overviews in Gemini-powered Search to provide more context into topics you're searching about. Google is sharing the details on five updates it has given AI Mode and AI Overviews within Search. These include providing more links directly within AI responses, giving previews of linked websites when you hover over links on desktop, quotes from social media discussions, links to in-depth articles in response to searches for information about certain topics, and links to news sources that are highlighted as subscriptions.

Google making links in AI Mode and AI Overviews a bit more direct

Since the launch of AI Overviews and AI Mode, Google has been working to make links in generative responses more prominent, with Search adding five updates today. Google is now placing links "right next to the relevant [generated] text" in an AI Mode or AI Overview response. ...you may now see a link to a Pacific coast bike touring guide right next to the bullet point about terrain, or a link to a blog post with training suggestions next to the bullet point about daily mileage. On desktop, hovering over an inline link will show the "name of the website or title of the web page." This aims to provide more context as "people might hesitate to click a link if they're not sure exactly where it leads." AI Mode and AI Overviews will now highlight links from your news subscriptions. Early testing found that "people were significantly more likely to click links that were labeled as their subscriptions." This requires publishers to integrate subscriptions with Google. AI responses from Google will now surface "perspectives from public online discussions, social media, and other firsthand sources." When this occurs, you'll see the creator's name, handle, or community name. For example, if you're researching how to take great pictures of the northern lights, you might see quotes from a photography forum advising on exposure time, along with clickable links - featuring the specific community name - so you can jump to the full conversation. Finally, many of Google's AI responses will now end with suggestions "for where to go next" that let you dive deeper. This might include links to "unique articles or in-depth analyses on different facets of your topic."

Google Search's latest updates aim to turn AI responses into a starting point, not a dead end

Five new features, including a Further Exploration section and inline link previews, are designed to get users clicking through to websites from AI Mode and AI Overviews. Google's AI-powered Search features have fundamentally changed how we look stuff up. Instead of scrolling through the search results, most of us now just read the AI Overview and move on. Google wants to change that. The company is rolling out five updates to AI Mode and AI Overviews designed to surface more links and give users more reasons to click through to the websites behind them. Further Exploration and inline links The most notable addition is Further Exploration, a new section that appears at the end of AI Overviews with curated links to specific articles, case studies, or reports related to the query. For example, Google says if you search for how cities have added green space, you might see links to a stream restoration project in Seoul or a report on how architects designed New York's High Line park. This should give users a reason to keep exploring instead of closing the tab after reading the overview. Google is also placing more links directly within AI responses, next to the relevant text, rather than grouped at the bottom. The company explains that searching for a California bike trip, for instance, might surface a link to a Pacific Coast touring guide next to a bullet point about terrain, and a training blog post next to a bullet point about daily mileage. This will give users a more direct path from the AI answer to the source material behind it. On desktop, hovering over any inline link will trigger a preview showing the website name and page title, which is aimed at giving users more confidence about visiting the website. Google's internal testing found that users were more hesitant to follow links when they could not tell where they led, so the preview removes that friction before the click. Subscriptions and community perspectives AI Mode and AI Overviews will now label links from a user's active news subscriptions so they stand out in results. Google says early testing showed users were significantly more likely to click those labeled links. For subscribers, it means the publications they already pay for will be easier to find inside AI search results rather than buried below them. AI responses will also begin surfacing previews of perspectives from public forums, like Reddit, social media, and firsthand sources, with added context like a creator's handle or community name. A search about photographing the northern lights, for example, might surface tips from a specific photography forum, with a link to the full discussion thread. Thanks to this, users who want real-world advice rather than a synthesized summary will have a clearer path to the people who have actually been there. The bigger picture These updates also carry real stakes for publishers. AI Overviews have raised concerns across the media industry about declining referral traffic, and these features are Google's most direct attempt yet to show that AI search and the open web can coexist. Whether they move the needle on click-through rates will be worth watching. Recommended Videos AI Overview accuracy, however, remains an open question. It has a history of confidently stating wrong information, and the featured image for this story is a reminder of that: it misidentifies today's date as May 20, 2025. Getting users to click through to publishers may be a step in the right direction, but it's hard to fully trust a guide that does not always know what day it is.

Google updates AI Mode and AI Overviews with new links, subscriptions, and community insights

Google is rolling out updates to AI Mode and AI Overviews in Search to help users find relevant websites, deeper insights, and original content from across the web. With ongoing advances in AI, Google is improving its generative AI experiences in Search, including AI Mode and AI Overviews. These experiences are designed to help users connect with authentic sources and explore information across the web. Google is also enhancing how links appear in AI Search results and introducing new ways to help users access sources, brands, and websites they value, said Hema Budaraju, Vice President, Product Management, Search. Here are five updates being introduced to support deeper web exploration: AI responses will now include suggestions at the end of results to help users continue exploring a topic. These suggestions point to articles and in-depth analysis covering different aspects of the same subject, allowing users to expand their research beyond the initial query. For example, a search on urban green spaces may surface case studies such as stream restoration projects in Seoul or design reports on New York's High Line park. Google is introducing a feature that highlights links from users' news subscriptions within AI Mode and AI Overviews. This allows users to quickly access content from sources they already subscribe to. For publishers, a form is available to learn more about connecting subscriptions with Google. In early testing, users showed higher engagement with links labeled as subscription content. AI responses will now include previews of public discussions, social media posts, and other firsthand sources. These previews provide context from people sharing real experiences and advice. Additional details such as creator names, handles, or community identifiers will be shown alongside links, helping users understand the source before opening it. For example, photography forum discussions may appear when users search for tips on capturing the northern lights. Google is adding more inline links directly inside AI-generated responses. These links appear next to relevant information within the response itself, allowing users to access sources while reading. For example, a search about a California bike trip may include links to cycling guides alongside terrain-related points, or training resources next to daily distance recommendations. On desktop, users will now see a preview when hovering over links in AI responses. The preview includes basic information such as the website name and page title. This helps users understand the destination of a link before clicking and provides additional context while browsing AI-generated answers. Google continues to enhance how links are ranked and displayed in generative AI Search using methods such as query fan-out. This approach expands search queries internally to identify more relevant sources across the web. By improving link visibility and showcasing original voices, Google is building AI in Search to help users discover the richness of the web, connecting them directly with the sources, brands, and creators they're looking for. The company continues to test, learn, and refine these features based on what works best for users.