What is an AI Overview?
An AI Overview is the block of text that Google generates and displays at the top of search results before any organic listings. It's Google's answer, synthesised from multiple sources, with citations shown as small cards beneath it.
If your website is cited in an AI Overview for a high-volume query, you get visibility at the top of the page for users who may never scroll further. If you're not cited, you've been leapfrogged, even if you rank #1 organically.
When did this start?
Google began testing AI Overviews (originally called Search Generative Experience or SGE) in 2023 and rolled them out broadly in 2024. By mid-2025 they appeared on a significant portion of informational queries across most major markets.
Who gets cited?
Interestingly, the cited page doesn't always have to rank highly organically.
What it means for your traffic
The long-term pattern is clear: being cited is valuable; being ignored by the AI layer is increasingly costly.
How to get cited
Structure your content to answer the specific question directly. Add FAQ schema. Build topical authority by publishing comprehensively on your subject area.