If you have searched Google recently for almost any informational or comparison query, you have seen the change. Above the blue links that have been the face of Google search for twenty-five years, there is now a large formatted block with a synthesized answer. That block is a Google AI Overview, formerly known as Search Generative Experience or SGE during its testing phase.
It rolled out broadly in 2024 and has been expanding to more query types and more geographic markets since. For many categories of searches relevant to local businesses, it now appears consistently and prominently. And it is changing the economics of search visibility in ways that most small business owners have not fully processed yet.
What a Google AI Overview actually looks like
A Google AI Overview appears at the top of a search results page, above the traditional ten blue links. It contains a formatted, synthesized response to the search query, generated by Google’s AI systems using information drawn from web sources. Those sources are cited inline in the Overview, with small numbered references that link to the source pages.
For a query like “best plumbers in Edmonton,” an AI Overview might provide a direct answer about what to look for in a plumber, mention factors like licensing requirements in Alberta, and cite two or three specific businesses or information sources. The businesses and sources cited in the Overview get visibility that the traditional results below them do not.
For a query like “how to fix a leaking tap,” an AI Overview might provide step-by-step instructions drawn from a home improvement resource, citing that resource as the source. The website that gets cited is visible above every other website in the traditional results, regardless of where it ranks in those traditional results.
Why AI Overviews reduce traditional search traffic
The research on what AI Overviews do to traditional search click-through rates is consistent and significant. When an AI Overview appears on a search results page, fewer people click on the traditional blue links below it. The Overview answers the question directly, reducing the need to click through to find the answer.
This is not a marginal effect. For queries where an AI Overview appears, click-through rates to traditional results drop substantially. The majority of users read the Overview and either get their answer or follow one of the cited sources rather than scrolling down to the traditional results.
The implication for any business that has built its online presence around ranking in Google’s traditional results is direct: the value of those rankings is decreasing for any query category where AI Overviews appear. Being in position one on Google still matters. Being cited in the AI Overview that appears above position one matters more.
Which queries trigger AI Overviews
Not every Google search triggers an AI Overview. Understanding which types of queries produce them helps you understand where the strategic importance lies.
AI Overviews appear most commonly for:
- Informational queries where the searcher is looking to understand something. “What is GEO in marketing,” “how do I choose a web designer,” “what does a drywall contractor charge in Edmonton.”
- Comparison queries where the searcher is evaluating options. “Web design agency vs freelancer,” “WordPress vs Squarespace for small business,” “what to look for in an Edmonton electrician.”
- How-to queries where the searcher wants a process or steps. “How to brief a web designer,” “how to get my business to show up in Google,” “how to prepare for a website redesign.”
- Local service queries in many markets. “Best web designer in Edmonton,” “top trades contractors in Edmonton,” “who builds AI-powered websites.”
Pure navigational queries (“MM8 Studio website”) and transactional queries with clear commercial intent (“buy WordPress theme”) are less likely to trigger AI Overviews. But the informational, comparison, and local service categories cover an enormous percentage of the queries that matter most for local business discovery.
How Google decides what to include in an AI Overview
Google has not published a detailed technical specification of exactly how it selects sources for AI Overviews. But the patterns that emerge from studying which content gets included are consistent with what the research on AI citation suggests more broadly:
Content that directly and specifically answers the query. The Overview is built to answer a question. Content that answers that specific question with accurate, specific information is more likely to be included than content that touches on the topic generally.
Content from sources that Google already treats as credible. Domain authority, consistent publishing history, and established credibility in a topic area all contribute to a higher likelihood of inclusion. A website with two years of consistent, relevant content is a more trusted source than a website that published one page and nothing since.
Content with clear structure and formatting. Google’s systems parse structured content more effectively. Pages with clear headers, organized sections, and well-formatted information are easier to extract from and synthesize. This is why a well-structured FAQ page often performs better in AI Overviews than a dense, unbroken article on the same topic.
Content that is locally relevant for local queries. For location-specific queries, Google weights content that explicitly addresses that location. A page about web design in Edmonton specifically is more relevant to an Edmonton web design query than a page about web design generally.
The specific actions that improve AI Overview visibility
Create dedicated pages that answer specific questions
Rather than covering a topic broadly on one long page, create individual pages that each answer one specific question deeply and well. A page titled “How much does a website cost in Edmonton in 2026” that provides a specific, well-structured answer to exactly that question is a much stronger candidate for AI Overview citation than a general services page that mentions pricing briefly in several places.
Add FAQ schema markup to relevant pages
FAQ schema is structured data code that marks up question-and-answer content in a way that Google’s systems can directly parse and extract. Adding FAQ schema to pages that contain question-and-answer content significantly improves their chances of being used in AI Overviews. This is a technical change that can be implemented by a developer or through a WordPress plugin and has direct, measurable impact on AI search visibility.
Write in clear, direct language
AI Overviews pull from content that makes clear, direct, accurate statements. Hedged language, marketing speak, and vague claims are less useful to systems trying to synthesize a direct answer. “Our Digital Presence engagement starts at $4,500 and covers strategy, design, build, and search foundations” is more citable than “we offer competitive pricing and fast turnaround times.” Be specific and direct.
Maintain a consistent publishing schedule
Google’s trust in a source as a reliable reference for AI Overviews is built over time. A website that publishes one substantive, relevant piece of content per month for a year is demonstrably more active and credible than a website that has not been updated in eighteen months. Consistency of publishing is a long-term investment that compounds into AI Overview visibility.
Build your Google Business Profile authority
For local service queries, Google Business Profile data is one of the inputs into AI Overview generation. A fully completed, actively maintained GBP with real reviews, regular posts, and complete service information is directly connected to your visibility in AI Overviews for local queries. This is one of the highest-leverage free actions available to any local Edmonton business.
The honest picture of where this is heading
Google AI Overviews are not a temporary experiment. They are Google’s response to the existential competitive pressure from ChatGPT and other AI search tools. Google is investing billions in this technology and has made clear it sees AI-generated answers as the future of search.
The businesses that build their online presence with AI Overview visibility in mind over the next twelve to twenty-four months will be the ones with established credibility in Google’s systems when AI Overviews become the dominant first experience for the majority of searches. The businesses that wait will be trying to establish that credibility retroactively, against competitors who have already built it.
The window for establishing early AI search credibility is open right now. It will not stay open indefinitely.