Google boosts news and link visibility in AI mode

Alphabet's Google is set to increase the prominence and placement of website links in its AI-powered search results, a move aimed at countering concerns from brands and news publishers over a potential drop in traffic. The company has been integrating more AI features into its search engine for the past two years, with the introduction of AI Overviews in May 2024 and AI Mode in March 2025. AI Overviews provide summarized answers to search queries, while AI Mode offers a more comprehensive response with additional links.

Starting now, Google plans to display contextual links more frequently and higher up in AI-generated search content. The company will also expand its link carousel, a feature featuring cards with headlines and images of relevant articles, to more countries worldwide. The algorithm will prioritize articles from users' pre-selected "preferred sources" and incorporate content from social media posts and other forums.

Google's CEO, Sundar Pichai, revealed during the company's second-quarter 2025 results that AI Overviews had reached over two billion monthly users across more than 200 countries. However, several studies have indicated that the use of AI summaries can significantly decrease the likelihood of users clicking on suggested links. A report by consultancy Chartbeat found that news website publishers experienced a 40% decrease in traffic from Google between July 2025 and July 2026.

In August, Apig, an association representing French daily newspapers, warned the Competition Authority that AI summaries may be violating agreements signed with news publishers in 2022.