Google has recently confirmed that performance data for AI Mode will soon be available in the Google Search Console Performance reports. However, there is an important caveat: this data won’t be broken out separately. Instead, the metrics related to AI Mode will be blended in with figures from other Google Search surfaces, making it harder to analyse the specific impact of AI Mode.
This limitation means that while webmasters and marketers will be able to view overall performance, they won’t be able to pinpoint exactly how much of their traffic is being generated through AI Mode. For businesses that depend on clear metrics to evaluate success, this can be a source of frustration, particularly when trying to assess the effectiveness of content or campaigns specifically within AI-driven search.
The introduction of AI Mode to the broader public came after it spent time in testing through Google Labs. When it was first made available in March as part of those experiments, Google explained that data would not be reported in Search Console, since the feature was still in development. That stance is now shifting, as AI Mode becomes a permanent part of the search experience.
Despite this advancement, the nature of the reporting remains limited. Many SEOs had hoped that the rollout of AI Mode would be accompanied by more detailed performance data, enabling a better understanding of how users engage with AI-enhanced results versus traditional search listings. Unfortunately, that level of detail isn’t currently on offer.
John Mueller of Google confirmed via LinkedIn that AI Mode reporting is in the pipeline but not yet live. He explained that the data will eventually be incorporated into the Search Console, though it will not be separated out. This means there will be no dedicated section or filter to isolate AI Mode data from other web search interactions.
Mueller also noted that there won’t be any changes made to the Search Console API for this update. The performance data will appear within the existing framework, specifically under the “Web” search type in the Performance report. This keeps the interface simple but further limits visibility into AI-specific performance.
Google has since updated its Search Console help documentation to reflect these upcoming changes. The guidance states that websites shown in AI-related features, such as AI Overviews and AI Mode, will be included in the standard Web search traffic. This method of reporting is consistent with how other Google Search features are tracked.
To compensate for the lack of granularity, Google suggests using Search Console in tandem with Google Analytics. This can help marketers and site owners get a broader view of user behaviour and traffic patterns, potentially shedding more light on the role AI Mode is playing in content discovery and engagement.
Compounding these issues is a bug that has affected the tracking of AI Mode traffic. Google is aware of the problem and is actively working on a fix. However, as things stand, getting a full picture of how users are interacting with AI Mode remains a challenge, especially when trying to attribute performance accurately.
This situation is particularly difficult for marketers who rely on clear data to guide strategic decisions. As AI Mode continues to play a larger role in search, the inability to properly monitor its contribution places them at a disadvantage when it comes to campaign planning and optimisation.
The limitations extend beyond organic search. Even though Google has begun integrating ads into AI Overviews and is testing them in AI Mode, advertisers are still unable to view separate performance metrics for these placements. This lack of transparency undermines the potential benefits of AI-driven advertising.
Google had previously highlighted its commitment to control and transparency at the recent Google Marketing Live event. Yet, the current absence of detailed reporting for AI Mode and related features is raising questions about how much insight advertisers and SEOs are actually being given.
For those managing digital marketing campaigns, understanding where and how their content appears in search results is crucial. Without visibility into how AI Mode is influencing performance, it becomes more difficult to refine strategies and justify budget allocations.
AI Mode represents a significant step in the evolution of Google Search. It’s designed to offer richer, more context-aware results, powered by generative AI. However, the measurement tools needed to fully understand and take advantage of this innovation are still lagging behind.
Until Google provides clearer reporting, marketers and SEO professionals will have to rely on broader data trends and a combination of tools to gauge performance. The hope is that as AI Mode matures, the analytics around it will become more robust and informative.
For now, while AI Mode might be shaping the future of search, the lack of dedicated tracking makes it difficult to fully embrace. Marketers with limited resources especially will find it challenging to assess value and performance without clearer data from Google.
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