Google Adds Links to AI Overviews

Google has officially rolled out a new feature within its AI Overviews that allows certain words or phrases to link directly to related search results. This update follows a period of testing and observation, during which users noticed Google quietly experimenting with this type of linking behaviour. Now, it has been confirmed as a deliberate addition to improve the search experience.

The feature is designed to help users explore topics in greater depth. When certain terms appear in AI-generated summaries at the top of the search results, they may now contain clickable links. These links guide users to more detailed Google search results related to the term or phrase. This creates a more dynamic and interactive browsing experience, encouraging users to delve further into areas of interest.

According to Google, the decision to include these links is driven by its systems recognising when it might be useful to provide additional resources. If the algorithm determines that a particular term could benefit from further context, a link is inserted automatically. This helps ensure that users receive relevant and helpful information without needing to rephrase or repeat their query.

A spokesperson from Google explained to Search Engine Land: “To help people more easily explore topics and discover relevant websites, we’ve added links to some terms within AI Overviews when our systems determine it might be useful.” This statement highlights Google’s continuing efforts to enhance user experience by streamlining access to further information.

The integration of links within AI Overviews does not replace traditional search results. Instead, it complements them by offering a more intuitive and efficient way to navigate related content. For example, if a user searches for a general topic like “climate change impacts”, AI Overviews might highlight terms like “sea level rise” or “carbon emissions”, turning them into links for deeper exploration.

This move aligns with Google’s broader strategy of merging AI capabilities with its core search engine features. As AI-generated summaries become more sophisticated, features like embedded links are seen as essential tools for keeping users engaged while also promoting content discovery.

It also presents new considerations for content creators and SEO professionals. With AI Overviews now capable of linking directly to other search terms, optimising content for visibility in these summaries may become increasingly important. However, Google has yet to confirm whether these linked terms are influenced by structured data or other SEO signals.

This update reinforces Google’s commitment to innovation in search. By embedding links in AI-generated content, the company is offering users a more seamless and informative browsing journey. It’s a small but meaningful step in shaping the future of how we interact with search engines in an AI-driven world.

When you click on the underlined terms within an AI Overview—whether they appear at the top or further down the page—you’ll be taken to a fresh Google Search focused on that specific topic. In contrast, clicking on the small link icons in the side panel will direct you to external websites and publishers.

According to Google, these changes aim to improve the way users interact with search results. A spokesperson explained that the new links have been added where the system believes they may be useful. This update is designed to help users explore subjects more easily and discover relevant web content.

This approach is not entirely new. It mirrors Google’s long-standing “People also search for” feature, which also offers related search suggestions. During testing, the company found that users appreciated the ability to access more targeted information through these internal links.

The reason for the change, as Google explains, is to reduce the extra step users often take when manually searching for certain terms after viewing an AI Overview. By embedding these links directly, users can access related results without needing to enter a new query.

Feedback from testing has shown that people find it far more convenient to click through from the AI Overview rather than starting a fresh search. Google believes this leads to a smoother, more efficient search experience overall.

Although the feature provides quick links to more search results, it doesn’t replace the inclusion of external links. AI Overviews still include prominent connections to other websites, and Google says it is working to increase those further.

The system behind these updates also tries to prioritise linking out to third-party sources—especially when it has strong confidence that those sources will offer helpful and trustworthy information.

In short, this change reflects Google’s broader focus on making search more intuitive and responsive. By cutting down on repeated queries and offering more direct navigation, the platform continues to evolve with user needs in mind.

This new feature is currently only available in English within the United States. It can be accessed across both mobile and desktop platforms, according to Google.

The reason this matters is because publishers have long been urging Google to direct more traffic to their websites via search. With the official rollout of this feature, there are concerns that the opposite may happen—Google might end up keeping more traffic within its own ecosystem by funnelling users back to more search results instead of external sites.

While Google insists the intention is to improve the user experience by making it easier for people to explore topics, the implications for publishers could be quite significant. If users are encouraged to stay within Google’s own environment, there’s a risk that fewer clicks will make it to publisher websites.

Once again, Google maintains that these updates are based on user preferences and behaviour. But despite these justifications, many publishers and website owners may view the shift with concern, fearing it could negatively impact their visibility and traffic.