AI Overview Study for 8,000 Keywords in Google Search
AI Overview Study for 8,000 Keywords in Google Search
Philip Petrescu
Jul 1, 2024
24 min read
Understanding how search engines display information is crucial in today's digital landscape. One of Google's latest developments is AI Overviews - AI-generated summaries providing quick, relevant information directly in search results. This feature changes how users interact with search engines and affects organic traffic to websites.
In this study, we examine the frequency, placement, and impact of AI Overviews in Google Search. Our goal is to offer insights for adapting your SEO strategy to this major change in Google search.
TLDR
- The average AI Overview is 169 words and 912 pixels long.
- Only 12.4% of the analyzed keywords display an AI Overview.
- A Featured Snippet shows up on 17.6% of the analyzed keywords.
- On average, AI Overviews appear alongside Featured Snippets in 7.4% of cases.
- AI Overviews contain 7.2 links on average when expanded.
- 33.4% of AI Overview links rank in that query's top 10 organic results.
- 46.5% of URLs included in AI Overviews rank outside the top 50 organic results.
- Five-word queries trigger an AI Overview most frequently.
Want to jump straight to the in-depth study results? Click here.
What is an AI Overview?
The AI Overview is a feature that appears in Google search results, providing a summarized and concise answer to a query. The information is sourced from various web pages and is presented at the top of the search results page.
The goal of AI Overviews is to enhance the user experience by making search interactions more efficient and informative. This is achieved by delivering quick, precise information without requiring users to click through multiple links.
In our study, we identified four types of components inside AI Overviews:
- Simple Lists
- Image Lists
- Paragraphs of text
- Hero Images
Objective of the Study
To minimize the effect of AI Overviews on organic results, Google includes citations in the AI Overview, linking to the websites where the information is sourced. However, these citations are not always visible and often hidden behind a "Show more" button.
Methodology of the Study
As of July 2024, AI Overviews appear in Google search results only if the following conditions are true:
- The searchers are logged into their Google account.
- The searches are made from a United States IP address.
The AI Overview Study
How common are AI Overviews?
AI Overviews were found in 12% of SERPs.
Do AI Overviews impact the visibility of the first organic result?
AI Overviews can significantly impact organic traffic and visibility:
- Decreased Organic Visibility – AI Overviews push organic search results down the page, reducing visibility.
- Shift in User Behavior – They provide quick answers, leading users to rely on these summaries.
Do AI Overviews appear together with other SERP features?
AI Overviews are almost always accompanied by features like People Also Ask, Featured snippets, and Discussions & forums.
Will AI Overviews replace Featured Snippets?
AI Overviews and Featured Snippets are distinct yet serve to enhance user experience. AI Overviews aggregate information, while Featured Snippets directly extract from a source page.
How are Google Ads influenced by AI Overviews?
User engagement and click-through rates of Google Ads may be impacted by AI Overviews providing sufficient information.
Which queries are more likely to trigger an AI Overview?
Common terms trigger AI Overviews, indicating demand for concise, comprehensive responses.
How many links/sources are featured in AI Overviews?
The average AI Overview contains 7 to 8 links from various domains.
Which domains are featured as sources?
Top domains tend to be trusted information sources like mayoclinic.org and healthline.com.
How does keyword intent affect AI Overviews?
Keyword intent greatly influences the appearance of AI Overviews:
- Informational Intent: Most frequent (21.29%).
- Navigational Intent: Very low occurrence (0.09%).
- Commercial Intent: Low at 3.49%.
- Transactional Intent: Very low at 0.47%.
Conclusion
AI Overviews represent a significant shift in search technology, providing quick, summarized information directly impacting organic traffic and user behavior.