Google boosts news and link visibility in AI mode
Google displays news links higher in AI search results as publishers report traffic drops.
In brief
Google displays news links higher in AI search results as publishers report traffic drops. Google will show news links more prominently in AI search results after a 40% traffic decline for publishers. Originally reported by Dawn.
Google announces AI search changes
Google will start displaying links to websites and articles more prominently and higher up in search results powered by artificial intelligence.
AI Overviews launched in May 2024
Google launched AI Overviews in may 2024 where it generates summarised answers to search queries rather than only showing links.
AI Mode added in March 2025
Google added AI Mode in march 2025 which opens in a separate window and provides more comprehensive answers and links than AI Overviews.
Contextual links feature
Google will feature contextual links more frequently and higher up in ai-generated search content for users wanting to dig deeper.
Link carousel expansion
Google will expand its link carousel worldwide showing headlines with images for relevant articles below ai overviews.
Preferred sources prioritised
The algorithm will prioritise articles from sites users have identified as preferred sources and pull content from social media and forums.
Traffic drop for publishers
News publishers saw a 40 per cent drop in traffic from google between july 2025 and july 2026.
France reports breach
Apig, a group representing daily newspapers in france, alerted the competition authority that ai summaries breached agreements with news publishers.
AI Overviews users
Alphabet ceo sundar pichai reported ai overviews had more than two billion monthly users in over 200 countries.
User engagement drop
Studies show replacing traditional search with ai summaries reduces the rate at which users open suggested links.
Google's next steps
Google will make links displayed at the end of ai-generated summaries more engaging and prominent for users wanting to dig deeper.
What matters most
Google will show news links more prominently in AI search results after a 40% traffic decline for publishers.
