Study: Google AI Overviews drop to new lows, citing Quora and Reddit less

Google appears to be rethinking the approach to the way search results will be displayed

A Google homepage showing the search engine interface. Image Credit: Bastian Riccardi on Unsplash

Highlights:

• AI Overviews now show up in less than 7% of Google searches, a steep decline from previous levels.
• The education, entertainment, and e-commerce sectors experience significant reductions in AI Overview visibility.
• AI Overviews increase and decrease depending on the purpose or intention behind a user’s search query.

According to a recent study from BrightEdge, Google’s AI Overviews which offer concise, AI-generated summaries within search results have seen a significant decline in visibility, now appearing in less than 7% of queries. This marks a major shift since earlier this year, with notable impacts across various industries and search behaviors.

BrightEdge’s analysis as reported by Search Engine Land revealed that the decline in Google’s AI Overviews began in mid-April and has continued to drop steadily. The sectors most affected by this change include education, entertainment, and e-commerce. In these areas, users now encounter fewer AI-generated summaries, which previously helped streamline their search experience by providing key details quickly.

This chart illustrates the decline in Google AI Overview presence, reflecting a decrease from 11% to 7% in a recent analysis. Image Credit: Search Engine Land

Impact on Education

In the education sector, the visibility of AI Overviews has dropped substantially, decreasing from 26% to 13%. This reduction means students and educators are less likely to encounter concise, AI-generated summaries for their queries. For instance, with fewer AI Overviews appearing in search results, locating accurate information for their research and assignments may be difficult for students. Also, educators, who often use these overviews to prepare lesson plans, stay updated on educational trends, and gather reliable data swiftly may experience increased difficulty.

Impact on Entertainment

The entertainment industry has experienced an even more dramatic decline. Previously, AI Overviews appeared in 14% of entertainment-related searches, providing users with quick, summarized insights into movies, music, and other entertainment topics. However, this figure has now dropped to nearly 0%. This significant decrease impacts users seeking quick, summarized insights on entertainment news. For those seeking instant information on the latest movies, music releases, celebrity news, and more, this reduction means longer search times and less immediate access to relevant details.

With fewer summarized insights available, users might need to click through multiple links to find the information they need. This change could affect user satisfaction and the efficiency of finding entertainment-related information.

Impact on E-commerce

E-commerce searches have been impacted by the recent changes in AI Overview visibility significantly. The presence of AI Overviews in this sector has dropped drastically from 26% to just 9%. This reduction means shoppers seeking product comparisons, reviews, and summaries now encounter a streamlined search experience that could alter their purchasing decisions. With fewer AI-generated insights, consumers might find making informed choices more challenging.

Implication on Reddit and Quora Citations

A noteworthy aspect of the declining presence of Google’s AI Overviews is the sharp reduction in citations from popular platforms like Reddit and Quora. Google’s AI Overviews previously drew information from these platforms to answer queries. For instance, a search on “best budget laptops” might have previously included insights from Reddit threads discussing user experiences and recommendations. However, with an 85.71% drop in Reddit citations, such insights are now less likely to be featured prominently in AI Overviews.

Chart illustrating Reddit’s significant decline in AI Overview citations, dropping from 4% to under 0.05% according to BridgeEdge’s latest data. Image Credit: Search Engine Roundtable

Previously, if you searched for health advice, Quora’s answers might have been cited in AI Overviews, providing different perspectives from experts and users. With a drastic 99.69% decline in Quora citations, the reliability of such sourced information within AI Overviews is significantly reduced. Therefore, it might feature information from authoritative sources like health websites or academic research papers.

Graph illustrating the sharp decline of Quora citations in Google AI Overviews, dropping from almost 3% visibility to nearly 0%. Image Credit: Search Engine Roundtable

Shift in Search Query Patterns

Also, Google’s AI Overviews appear more frequently for certain types of queries and less frequently for others, based on what people are searching for. This means that how users craft their questions or phrases affects the appearance of AI Overviews. For instance, using keywords such as “Best” and “What is,” Google is more likely to show an AI Overview. Conversely, Complex Queries with keywords like “vs” or specific brands might still show traditional search results instead of AI Overviews.

Implications for Users and Content Creators

For users, the decreased visibility of Google AI Overviews means potentially less immediate access to summarized information directly within search results. This necessitates a more direct engagement with websites and content sources. Content creators and marketers may need to adjust their strategies to ensure their information remains prominently featured in search results, considering alternative methods to enhance visibility and engagement.

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