What is Google AI Overview and how does it affect your search results?

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Google AI Overview

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

If you’re using Google Search to find things online, here’s how AI changes how you see and interact with content.

Search engines have been the default tool for internet users since the early days of the web. Since Google launched in 1998, this kind of information retrieval has become a part of our daily lives, adapting to users’ changing needs and expectations globally. Recent developments in open source AI have also significantly impacted the AI landscape, democratizing access to advanced tools and models and nurturing innovation across the developer community.

Have you never used AI-enhanced search before? Interacting with an AI to find information can be intimidating—but it doesn’t have to be. We’ll show you how Google incorporates AI into its search and a step-by-step guide on using the AI Overview feature and getting what you need.

What is Google AI Overview feature?

Google AI Overview

 

The Google AI Overview feature is an AI-powered tool within Google Search that provides concise, informative summaries right in the search results. It’s often used to quickly grasp complex topics and find answers to questions without having to visit multiple sites.

Currently available in over 120 countries through the Search Labs program. They are rolling out globally. If you want to see traditional search results, switch to the “Web” tab after your query.

It is a big step up in search technology. It uses advanced machine learning algorithms and natural language processing, often built on giant models, to understand and aggregate information from multiple sources. Unlike traditional search results that list relevant websites, AI Overviews give you a coherent, summarized answer to your question.

How does it work?

AI Overview works by:

  • Analyzing the user’s search query to understand the intent and context, utilizing large models to handle the complexity and depth of the analysis.

  • Scanning the entire Google index and knowledge graph.

  • Extracting info from multiple high-quality sources.

  • Aggregating the info into a clear summary.

  • Showing the summary at the top of the search results page.

It happens in milliseconds, giving you instant access to what you need.

Benefits of the Google AI Overview feature

benefits of Google AI Overview

Fast information access

AI Overviews are great for getting quick insights into a topic. With thought leadership queries in particular, people can see a summary of expert opinions and start to trust the information—two critical components of any research process. With AI aggregating info from multiple sources, people can move further along their journey to becoming informed on a topic.

Since AI Overviews are at the top of the search results, you get the relevant info without clicking through multiple sites. This time-saving feature helps you be more productive and efficient when searching online.

You can find a comprehensive overview of a complex topic, such as “Mercury outboard motors”, by clicking through the AI Overview instead of visiting multiple sites.

Better user experience

Searching for information can be a chore, especially if you browse multiple sites and try to get the whole picture. AI Overviews are scalable and provide a streamlined experience perfect for time-starved individuals and businesses. You can get the summary in seconds instead of spending hours researching a topic.

Also, advancements in image generation technologies enhance the user experience by providing visually engaging summaries and illustrations.

This better user experience goes beyond just saving time. The AI Overview feature also helps in:

  • Reducing information overload by showing only the most important details.

  • Providing a balanced view of topics by aggregating info from multiple sources.

  • A starting point for further research, if needed.

  • Answering follow-up questions to the original query.

Personalization and relevance with large language models

Finding what you’re looking for in the vast online content is more complex than ever. Search results are flooded with sites competing for your attention, and you’re up against millions of other users for the most relevant info.

Most search engines are moving towards AI-powered, personalized content delivery. In other words, you’ll get more relevant and tailored results with AI-powered search features.

It gives you a curated summary without clicking through to individual sites.

For example, if you ask a complex question, the AI can aggregate info from multiple sources to give you the complete answer. Voila! You have all the information at your fingertips, which takes no extra effort.

The personalization aspect of AI Overviews becomes more apparent as you use the feature. The AI learns from your search patterns and preferences and tailors future summaries to match your interests and needs better. This could mean prioritizing certain types of information, adjusting the level of technical detail, or even changing the writing style of the summaries to suit your preferences.

Open source models play a crucial role in this process, as their accessibility and collaborative nature allow for rapid innovation and customization, ensuring that the AI can provide highly relevant and personalized results.

How to use the Google AI Overview feature effectively

use Google AI Overview feature

Be specific with your search.

How specific you are with your search queries can make a big difference in the AI Overview you get. If you’re too broad, the AI will give you a general summary that doesn’t answer your question; if you’re too specific, you might miss out on the wider context.

Data shows that users who ask clear, focused questions get more relevant AI Overviews. 73% of users are more satisfied with search results when they use specific and well-crafted questions.

Prioritize crafting good questions to increase your chances of getting the most relevant and valuable AI-generated summaries. With the advancements in powerful models from companies like Hugging Face and Stability AI, the importance of crafting precise questions has become even more crucial to use these technologies effectively.

For example, instead of searching for “climate change”, try:

  • “What are the causes of climate change?”

  • “How does climate change affect biodiversity?”

  • “What are the solutions to climate change?”

These specific queries will give you more targeted AI Overviews.

Use natural language.

People use AI Overviews for several reasons: They might want to learn something fast, get the big picture of a topic, or find specific information. All three reasons benefit from using natural language in your queries—phrasing that you would ask a person.

Research your topic and find out what you want to know. Choose good questions that relate to those aspects so you can use the AI’s natural language processing in your search and get more detailed, contextually relevant answers.

Examples of natural language queries:

  • “How does photosynthesis work in plants?”

  • “What were the causes of World War II?”

  • “Can you explain blockchain in simple terms?”

These are phrased as you would ask a knowledgeable person, which helps the AI understand your intent and give you more relevant summaries.

Ask follow-up questions.

An AI Overview isn’t just a piece of information—it’s an interactive feature to explore topics further. Google’s AI can handle follow-up questions so you can drill down into specific parts of the overview.

You can type your follow-up question in the search bar in its simplest form. But to optimize your experience—and increase the average 45% follow-up question engagement—try:

  • Asking for clarification on points mentioned in the overview.

  • More information on a subtopic.

  • Related concepts or implications of the information.

  • Using the overview as a jumping-off point for more specific questions.

Google uses this follow-up engagement to refine and personalize your search experience and may give you even more relevant and valuable AI Overviews in future searches.

For example, if you got an AI Overview about renewable energy, you might ask follow-up questions like:

  • “What are the challenges of large-scale solar energy?”

  • “How is wind energy compared to solar?”

  • “What are the new technologies in renewable energy?”

While AI Overviews are helpful, they shouldn’t replace traditional search methods entirely. Instead, use them as a starting point for your research. The overview will give you a quick big picture of a topic, which you can build upon with more in-depth sources.

Interestingly, the open-source AI community has been quietly eating into the market share of major tech companies like Google and OpenAI, making significant advancements while these giants focus on internal competition.

For example:

  • Start with an AI Overview.

  • Use the information from the overview to ask more specific questions.

  • Click through to some of the sources in the overview for more info.

  • Use traditional search results to find other perspectives or more recent info.

This way, you can use the efficiency of AI overviews while still getting the depth and diversity of traditional search results.

Getting started with Google AI Overview

getting started with Google AI Overview

How to access and enable the feature

Before you start

  • Check your device. Ensure you’re on a supported device with the latest Google Search app or Chrome browser.

  • Go to Google Search Labs. Go to labs.google.com/search and sign in with your primary Google account. It is where all the experimental features live.

Enable

  • Find the AI Overview feature in the Search Labs interface.

  • Some users may need to opt-in. Check your Google account settings or look for prompts to turn on advanced features in the search interface.

  • Turn on AI Overview to get AI summaries in your search results.

How to use

  • Search. Once enabled, search as you would normally.

  • Find the AI Overview. Look for a box or section at the top of the results, often labeled as “Overview” or “AI-generated summary.” It will show up for eligible queries.

  • Interact with the overview:

    • Read the summary of the info.

    • Ask follow-up questions or ask for more to make it an interactive search.

    • Use the related topics or suggested questions to dig deeper.

  • Try a different search. If you don’t see an AI Overview for your first search, try rephrasing your query or asking a more specific question that would benefit from an overview.

  • Be patient. Google is rolling this out and refining it. If it’s unavailable for all your searches, check back later as it develops.

This feature helps you get a quick, AI-generated summary of relevant info. It’s meant to help you understand complex topics and find answers without visiting multiple sites.

Troubleshooting common issues

Need help getting or using the AI Overview feature? Try these:

  • Clear your browser cache and cookies.

  • Make sure you’re signed in to your Google account.

  • Try searching in a private/incognito window.

  • Check if the feature is available in your country.

  • If all else fails, contact Google Support.

The future of generative AI in search

You know the benefits and how to ask. Now use it to your advantage with these:

  • Get with the times. It differs from traditional search, but AI Overviews can save you time.

  • Be critical. AI-generated content is powerful but not perfect. Use the overviews as a starting point, but don’t hesitate to verify important information from primary sources.

  • Give feedback. Many AI systems get better with user feedback. If you find errors or have suggestions for improvement, look for ways to give feedback to Google.

  • Stay up to date. As with any technology, Google’s AI features will evolve. Look out for announcements about new features or changes to the AI Overview feature. Future developments in AI search, especially with the rise of open source AI, will continue to transform the landscape. Open-source tools and models democratize access to AI technology, enabling broader collaboration and innovation.

  • Use AI with traditional search. While AI Overviews are helpful, they shouldn’t replace critical thinking and in-depth research when needed.

Capping off

No more scrolling through search results and cobbling together info from multiple sources when you use Google’s AI Overview feature. It has everything you need to get complex topics in a nutshell, leveraging the power of open source models to enhance accessibility and innovation in AI.

  • Summaries that are brief but informative from multiple trusted sources.

  • Can handle complex queries and give nuanced answers.

  • Interactive elements to drill down further.

  • It is continuously updated and improved for accuracy and relevance.

  • Taps into Google’s massive knowledge base for coverage.

Over 4 billion people use Google for search. Try the future of online search today and change how you find and interact with information online.

About the Author

Mylene Dela Cena

Mylene is a versatile freelance content writer specializing in Video Editing, B2B SaaS, and Marketing brands. When she's not busy writing for clients, you can find her on LinkedIn, where she shares industry insights and connects with other professionals.

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