ALRIGHT, let’s all talk about the elephant in the room. Google’s search results are changing—again. But this time, it’s not just an algorithm tweak or a new ranking factor. It’s generative AI.
If you’ve searched something recently and been greeted by a big, chat-style answer box at the top of the page—that’s an AI Overview. As of mid-2025, these summaries show up in 20–30% of all searches… and that number’s growing fast.
And here’s the kicker: Those AI answers are pulling information from your content—but users aren’t always clicking through to read the full thing.
In fact, click-through rates on AI-generated results are down anywhere from 18% to 64%.
So… is SEO dead? Not even close.
Let’s talk about what this means instead:
- Visibility matters more than ever. If your content is cited in Google’s AI responses, you’re still building authority and brand recognition.
- Being cited is the new ranking. Generative engines “choose” their sources. Structuring your content for clarity, depth, and trust can help you earn that mention.
- The shift is toward “answer optimization.” You’re not just optimizing for blue links anymore—you’re optimizing to be the answer itself.
How to get featured in AI Overviews:
- Use structured content – Clear headings, short answers, and direct language.
- Target question-based queries – “How to…,” “What is…,” “Why does…” still matter.
- Show experience & authority – Use real examples, expert authorship, and credible sources.
- Use schema markup – Especially FAQ, How-To, and Article schema.
Bottom line: AI Overviews may be cutting into traffic, but they’re raising the bar on what kind of content gets seen. Show up as a cited source, and you’ve earned more than a click—you’ve earned trust.
