Google is updating its AI search results to make inline links more prominent in AI Overviews and AI Mode, aiming to address concerns about reduced traffic to publishers, while also expanding its News AI licensing pilot to over 400 publishers.
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Google is updating its AI search results to make inline links appear "higher up in responses more frequently," <a href="https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/updates-ai-mode-overviews-explore-web/">according to a blog post</a>. The company's search results from AI Overviews and AI Mode give you answers in a customized view instead of the traditional list of links, but there are concerns that the format <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/790711/google-doj-ad-tech-remedies-wikihow-open-web">reduces traffic to publishers</a>. Google says it's been making "continued and substantial increases to the presence of inline links in our AI experiences," and this new change will help ensure "ensure key sources are easily clickable right when you need them."</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The company is announcing several other changes to highlight links an …</p>
<p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/1012206/google-ai-mode-overview-inline-links">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>
# Google is making inline links more prominent in AI responses
Source: [https://www.theverge.com/tech/1012206/google-ai-mode-overview-inline-links](https://www.theverge.com/tech/1012206/google-ai-mode-overview-inline-links)
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Jay Peters
is a senior reporter covering technology, gaming, and more\. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme\.
Google is updating its AI search results to make inline links appear “higher up in responses more frequently,”[according to a blog post](https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/updates-ai-mode-overviews-explore-web/)\. The company’s search results from AI Overviews and AI Mode give you answers in a customized view instead of the traditional list of links, but there are concerns that the format[reduces traffic to publishers](https://www.theverge.com/tech/790711/google-doj-ad-tech-remedies-wikihow-open-web)\. Google says it’s been making “continued and substantial increases to the presence of inline links in our AI experiences,” and this new change will help ensure “ensure key sources are easily clickable right when you need them\.”
The company is announcing several other changes to highlight links and publishers within its AI results\. For sites that are among a few for a specific task or certain information — an example image from Google highlights a query about an airline refund — Google is testing showing the relevant links at the top of a response with context\. For “timely” articles, the company is now rolling out the link carousels[announced in May](https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/original-high-quality-content-search/)to more locations and languages\. Google is making links at the end of a query “more engaging and prominent, with image thumbnails and a more clickable design\.” And it’s now testing clickable links in AI mode to[search profiles](https://www.theverge.com/tech/943233/google-search-profiles-custom-page)for publishers and creators\.
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Google[also says](https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/news/news-ai-pilot-update-publishers/)that more than 400 publishers are participating in its “News AI” pilot program, which it announced[in December](https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/tools-partnerships-web-ecosystem/)\. The licensing program pays publishers for “the delivery and use of enhanced content to develop new AI features,” including “in\-depth article overviews on Google News publisher pages,” and*Axios*,*CNN*, and the*Financial Times*are among the partners that are newly onboard, according to Google\.
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- Jay Peters
Google's AI Overviews have grown from appearing in 15% of searches to 43% in one year, and AI Mode visits doubled, indicating a rapid shift toward AI-powered search as the default, which is impacting publisher referral traffic.
Google is automatically expanding AI search summaries for certain queries, pushing traditional links further down the results page to enhance user engagement, though it may require more scrolling.
UK regulators ordered Google to add clearer links in AI Overviews and allow UK publishers to opt out of AI-generated search features, marking a significant intervention in AI search practices.
Google introduces a 'Preferred Sources' button to help publishers combat traffic losses from AI-powered search, allowing readers to mark favorite sources for prioritized content in Search, Discover, and News. Additionally, Google is adding natural language customization for Discover feed and audio briefings.
Google is reportedly testing a pilot program that pays around 100 publishers based on how much their content contributes to AI Overviews, AI Mode, and Gemini, with some participants earning over $1 million in a year, amid regulatory scrutiny over AI search's impact on web traffic.