AI Overviews have shifted from being a shiny new feature to an everyday search reality at this point. Instead of starting with a list of blue links, many Google searches (up to 60%, according to some estimates) begin with an AI-generated summary at the top of the page.
These summaries provide quick-hit answers to user queries, above traditional organic search results and even above paid search listings – a major reason AI Overviews and SEO should be a key part of search engine optimization strategy in 2026.
While AI Overviews have become a familiar part of the SERP, they’re still evolving. A Google representative recently said the search giant tests and refines when AI Overviews appear based on how users interact with them, meaning visibility can change depending on whether or not those summaries actually help searchers. If they don’t add value, Google may remove them.
More than ever, getting and maintaining any advantage in SEO requires flexibility and a commitment to data-informed strategy. Let’s take a closer look at how AI Overviews work and why they matter for SEO.
AI overviews are like search results’ eager-to-please-but-still-learning younger cousin.
They give users a quick, to-the-point summary right at the top of the page, attempting to address whatever query was posted as quickly as possible. These AI-generated summaries can sometimes come from a single source, but they usually aggregate information from multiple websites to answer the question. It’s worth noting that AI tends to pull from sites they already deem authoritative and trustworthy.
But this eagerness does leave room for error. Sometimes, it’s a small glitch like not realizing the calendar year had rolled over to 2026 (quickly resolved, after the oversight made headlines) or the widely circulated example that had AI Overviews answering the question “How many rocks should a child eat?” by recommending at least one small rock per day – a claim that first appeared in an article published by the satirical newspaper The Onion.
Thankfully, the AI Overview has since been revised to advise that children should not be eating rocks at all.
Note the link icons and Learn More section to the right in the example above. That’s the part most attractive to SEO strategists and marketers: the summaries contain links to the sources referenced, directing users to those websites and significantly increasing visibility for informational queries. That means that a page otherwise lower down on organic Google search results can suddenly be launched to top position – if it can get pulled into an AI Overview.
So, how do you get your content to populate in Google’s AI Overviews? There’s no secret formula, but there are a few things we know make a difference. When creating content, focus on originality and authoritative content to stand out from AI-generated summaries and establish your expertise. Authority matters because internet users get savvier every day and search engines place greater weight on credible material than ever before.
Unlike traditional search rankings, AI Overviews focus less on keywords and more on user intent and domain authority.
That’s why platforms like YouTube and LinkedIn tend to do well, because social signals and video are increasingly important to Google’s algorithms – yet another reason to diversify your SEO efforts by implementing omni-channel approaches and strong authority signals. Implementing technical SEO best practices supports domain authority, improves user experience alowing your site to perform well for both users and search engines.
AI Overviews don’t appear for all search queries. Google tends to display them for more complex queries that otherwise required multiple searches (eating rocks aside).
For marketers, this means your content strategy should target topics that lend themselves to in-depth, informative responses.
A brief breakdown of how it all works: AI Overviews are powered by advanced systems like natural language processing (in this case, Google’s Gemini), machine learning algorithms (such as RankBrain) and other generative AI technology. AI systems analyze performance metrics to uncover patterns and forecast future trends and algorithm shifts. These systems analyze search queries, structured data, and even the relationships between words and concepts to create overviews that satisfy both the user and the algorithm alike.
While AI tools and AI SEO techniques can help optimize content for inclusion in AI Overviews by making it more discoverable and relevant to AI-driven search features, at the end of the day, there’s no shortcut to beating the search engine algorithm. There hasn’t been, and there won’t be.
That means the importance of creating valuable, high-quality content that aligns with user intent hasn’t changed. Whether you’re optimizing for traditional SEO or aiming for inclusion in AI Overviews, the principles remain the same:
AI Overviews and advanced SEO strategies may feel like a moving target, but a thoughtful, audience-first content strategy will always stand the test of time.
As mentioned, AI Overviews are shaking up how content is ranked and displayed in search results. By pulling information from multiple sources, these summaries give you an opportunity to be noticed – even if your pages aren’t in the top organic spots.
For example, a well-crafted, valuable blog post that otherwise would rank on page two can leap to the forefront if it’s included in an AI Overview. This visibility can direct more traffic to your site, especially for complex or niche user queries that rely on detailed answers.
But AI Overviews isn’t just about keyword optimization: it’s more important than ever to take a holistic, quality-forward approach to SEO to increase your likelihood of earning that placement.
The fact that AI Overviews provide quick, snackable answers upfront can be a good thing for searchers, but a double-edged sword for marketers. On one hand, they can improve clickthrough rates (CTR) for the pages they cite. On the other, AI Overviews can lead to a decline in organic traffic, as they provide answers directly in search results, reducing the need for users to click-through to websites.
So, how do you encourage users to dig deeper? By creating compelling, value-rich content that offers more than what’s in the AI Overview. This could include:
The goal is to make your site the next logical destination for users after they’ve seen the AI summary, encouraging them to explore further and stick around. If that sounds a little like the inbound methodology, that’s precisely because it is!
Despite their benefits, AI Overviews come with challenges. These summaries are only as good as the data they pull from, which can result in:
The takeaway: Use AI Overviews as a piece of the puzzle, not the whole strategy.
AI Overviews aren’t a replacement for thoughtful SEO and content marketing, but when used well, they can absolutely enhance your strategies. Successfully integrating them into your approach, though, requires a blend of creativity and technical knowhow.
Here are some best practices to keep in mind:
There are numerous tools on the market to support SEO efforts. Here are some of the ones we use and have seen success with:
Ultimately, tools are only as good as the people using them – AI or otherwise. Even the most advanced platforms and AI systems require thoughtful strategy, human oversight and a clear understanding of your goals to deliver real results.
At Kuno Creative, we see every day how AI is impacting marketing – and we know that it’s not just about the technology. It’s about how you use it.
Our team combines advanced tools with decades of experience to create customized, proven strategies that help you succeed.
We combine AI’s power and potential with human creativity and expertise to craft content that ranks well while also engaging your audience, prompting meaningful responses and action. Whether it’s optimizing for AI Overviews, building domain authority or enhancing user engagement, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Let’s connect to talk about taking your SEO and content strategy to new heights.