Google AI Overviews:

What Do TheyMean for Search?

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Google AI Overviews:
What Do They Mean for Search?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT and Claude are no longer a novelty – they’ve become part of everyday digital life. Even users who never directly engage with these platforms are now experiencing AI in digital marketing through the products they already use. One clear example is Google’s AI Overviews (AIO), which integrates generative AI into the search journey itself.

But here's the catch: simply having an email list isn't enough anymore. Success hinges on developing email marketing skills that can navigate an increasingly competitive inbox environment. No brand wants to be lost in the clutter, or worse, find their emails in the spam folder!

10+ Years Experiences

In 2025, AIO reported having more than 2 billion users, according to Google. Analyses also suggest 30% of US queries trigger AIOs (with ranges by state), and a separate study by Ahrefs found that AIOs show for 12.8% or more of all Google searches by volume. This is a problem for website managers and digital marketers alike because users who encounter an AIO are less likely to click on links. In fact, Ahrefs found a 34.5% lower CTR for top results when an AIO appears

In this article, we'll unpack what AI Overviews are and show you how to leverage this technology to boost your website's visibility and advance your career as a digital marketer.

What are AI Overviews?

AI Overviews are Google's generative artificial intelligence summaries that appear prominently on search results, often before organic listings and sometimes even above ads.
brUnlike featured snippets, which extract concise information from a single web page to answer a specific query, AI Overviews synthesize information from multiple sources to provide a more comprehensive summary. This approach offers users a broader, more streamlined understanding of their search topic without the need to click through multiple links.

What are the query types in AI overviews?

AI Overviews adapts its responses based on the type of search query, making it essential for marketers to understand how different intents shape the results users see. Broadly, queries fall into several categories:

  • Informational queries:

    • Users seek knowledge or explanations (e.g., “how to improve email open rates”). AIO often provides summarized answers, structured steps, or key takeaways here.

  • Commercial queries:

    • These reflect research intent before purchase (e.g., “best CRM tools for small businesses”). AI Overviews might showcase product comparisons or relevant brands.

  • Branded queries:

    • When users search for a specific brand (e.g., “Digital Marketing Institute courses prices”), AIO tends to highlight authoritative sources, such as official sites or trusted reviews.

  • Local queries:

    • For searches like “coffee shops near me,” AIO can integrate data from Google Maps and business listings, offering hyper-local recommendations.