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TechQuiet · 30h

Google boosts inline source links in AI Overviews and AI Mode

Facing publisher complaints about lost traffic, Google says source links will appear higher and more often in its AI-generated search answers.

newest coverage 1d agosummary written 1d ago16 pieces5 likes & upvotes1 comments MastodonNewswiresGoogle News

What to know

  • Google will show inline source links higher up and more often in AI Overviews and AI Mode answers, plus more prominent end-of-response link carousels and clickable publisher/creator profiles.
  • The update responds to continued complaints from brands and news publishers that AI-generated answers have sharply cut referral traffic since AI Overviews launched in May 2024.
  • Google also expanded its paid 'News AI' content-licensing pilot to over 400 publishers, with Axios, CNN, and the Financial Times newly onboard.
  • Google has not published click-through data, so independent verification of whether the changes actually restore publisher traffic is not yet possible.

“continued and substantial increases to the presence of inline links in our AI experiences”

Google, company blog post · The Verge ↗ · Oct 14

Google Search/AI product makerAxios News publisherCNN News publisherFinancial Times News publisher

Google boosts inline source links in AI Overviews and AI Mode
theverge.com

How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 8 pieces in one hour at Oct 15, 11 AM; 16 pieces over 46 hours (13 articles · 3 posts) Oct 15, 11 AM — 8 pieces · 8 articles — Google News 8Oct 15, 12 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Oct 15, 1 PM — 4 pieces · 2 articles · 2 posts — Mastodon 3, Newswires 1Oct 15, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 15, 3 PM — quietOct 15, 4 PM — quietOct 15, 5 PM — quietOct 15, 6 PM — quietOct 15, 7 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 15, 8 PM — quietOct 15, 9 PM — quietOct 15, 10 PM — quietOct 15, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Yesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quiet 123
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  1. 3

    Outlets frame update against publisher traffic warnings

    Straits Times, AFP/Dawn and others reported the changes as a response to ongoing warnings from brands and news publishers about a sharp decline in referral traffic since AI Overviews launched in May 2024.

    1. 4 outlets Google boosts news and link visibility in AI mode

      first by Dawn, 1d ago · also Straits Times, Deccan Chronicle, The Economic Times

  2. 2

    Commenter likens AI summarization to a depleted fishery

    A Mastodon reply to the announcement argued the underlying problem is that AI answers consume web content without replenishing it, comparing it to overfishing a quota.

    “Das Äquivalent einer Fischereiquote: Das Wissen wächst nicht mehr nach.”
    — @publictorsten@mastodon.social
    • publictorsten@mastodon.social

      Das Äquivalent einer Fischereiquote: Das Wissen wächst nicht mehr nach. https://www. theverge.com/tech/1012206/goog le-ai-mode-overview-inline-links

      publictorsten@mastodon.socialMastodon1d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  3. 1

    Search Engine Roundtable notes Google withholds click data

    Coverage of the update flagged that Google is not releasing click-through data, so the actual effect of the changes on publisher traffic cannot be independently verified.

    “one or two official places on the web to complete a specific task or get the exact info you need…”
    — Google, company blog post · source
    1. 2 outlets Google Updates Links In AI Mode & AI Overviews Again, Won't Show Click Data

      first by Search Engine Roundtable, 1d ago · also 9to5Google

      1 more headline
  4. background

    Google expands paid 'News AI' pilot to 400+ publishers — Google said more than 400 publishers are now in its News AI licensing pilot, which pays outlets for use of their content in AI features such as in-depth article overviews; Axios, CNN, and the Financial Times are named as newly onboard partners.

  5. background

    Google details new link-surfacing tests — 9to5Google and others detailed additional tests: a top-of-response section highlighting the "one or two official places" for a task, expanded timely-article carousels and Preferred Sources (usage up 7x since launch), and clickable creator/publisher names linking to Search profiles.

  6. background

    Google announces more prominent inline links in AI answers — In a blog post, Google said inline links will appear "higher up in responses more frequently" in AI Overviews and AI Mode, and that end-of-response links will get image thumbnails and a more clickable design.