Google’s AI Overviews Show Less Love to Top Search Results After Core Update

Google’s March 2025 core update has quietly but clearly changed the way its AI Overviews select sources. A new report shows that pages ranking in the top ten of Google’s organic search are now less likely to appear in AI Overviews compared to before. This change has raised important questions for content creators, website owners and search marketers.

The data comes from BrightEdge, a well-known enterprise SEO platform. According to their research, before the core update, about 16 percent of the links mentioned in Google’s AI Overviews matched links found in the top ten search results. After the update, that number dropped to 15 percent. While the difference might seem small at first glance, the drop shows that AI Overviews are pulling information from a wider range of sources, not just the pages that Google ranks highest in its traditional search listings.

AI Overviews Are Changing How Google Highlights Websites

AI Overviews are a new feature that Google has been rolling out in recent months. These short summaries appear at the top of some search results and aim to answer user questions directly. The AI uses information from web pages, including links, to build these overviews. The feature is designed to help people find answers faster, but it also changes the way websites get noticed.

In the past, if a website ranked on the first page of Google, especially in the top three positions, it was likely to get a lot of visitors. But with AI Overviews appearing above the traditional search results, the game has changed. Websites now need to hope that Google’s AI selects their page for citation in the overview, or they risk losing out on visibility and traffic.

Industries See Mixed Results

Interestingly, the impact of this shift has not been the same for every industry. According to BrightEdge, websites in the travel, entertainment and restaurant categories actually saw an increase in the overlap between their top ten rankings and the links mentioned in AI Overviews.

For example, in the travel industry, the overlap rose from nearly 13 percent to almost 20 percent. The entertainment industry, especially movie-related searches, saw an increase from around 9 percent to nearly 14 percent. Restaurant-related searches also showed a similar improvement, climbing from about 9.5 percent to over 14 percent.

This suggests that in some fields, AI Overviews are becoming more helpful for well-ranked websites. But across the web as a whole, the opposite trend is clear. AI Overviews are pulling more often from pages that do not appear on the first page of search results.

Less Traffic for Publishers

For website owners and publishers, this change is worrying. First, fewer top-ranked pages are being cited in AI Overviews. Second, when a page is mentioned, it often does not result in much traffic. This is because users can get their answers directly from the overview and may not feel the need to click on the link at all.

Some publishers have reported seeing little or no boost in traffic from AI Overviews, even when their links are featured. Others have noticed that their overall click-through rates from Google search are dropping. This is especially frustrating for websites that work hard to earn a place on the first page of Google, only to find that the AI Overview is now taking attention away from their link.

Another concern is the way Google sometimes links users back to its own search pages through AI Overviews. Instead of sending users directly to third-party websites, the AI often suggests users click on related searches or topics. This makes it even harder for publishers to earn clicks.

A New Challenge for SEO

These changes make one thing very clear. The rules of search engine optimization are shifting once again. Simply aiming for the first page of Google may no longer be enough. Website owners will now need to think about how to get their content noticed by Google’s AI, which could mean adjusting the way they write, format and present information.

SEO experts also point out that the drop in overlap between AI Overview links and top ten organic results suggests Google is favoring variety. This could mean that AI is trying to present a broader range of viewpoints or sources, rather than repeating what already ranks well in its traditional search listings.

While some industries have seen small benefits from the shift, many others are finding it harder to stay visible in search. For now, the advice from experts is to focus on producing clear, trustworthy and helpful content. Google’s AI systems are designed to find and highlight information that is useful and reliable, even if it does not come from the biggest websites.

The Future of AI Overviews

It is still early days for Google’s AI Overviews, and the company is likely to make more changes as it fine-tunes the system. For content creators and website owners, the key will be to watch these updates closely and stay flexible.

The rise of AI Overviews shows that Google’s search experience is moving beyond the old model of “ten blue links.” As artificial intelligence plays a bigger role in shaping what people see, the strategies for getting noticed online will need to evolve too.

For now, one thing is certain. Whether you are a publisher, marketer or small business, the world of search is not standing still. Being ready to adapt will be more important than ever.