Google has announced plans to make website links more visible within AI-generated results.
Robbie Stein, Google’s vice president of search, explained Tuesday that a major overhaul will mean that links will now appear in pop-ups.
For example, when a user searches for something, source citations appear in a “pop-up card style,” along with the article’s headline, short description, and preview image. This feature reflects a social media preview.
The update also introduces “hover previews” on the desktop and redesigns more descriptive link icons for mobile interfaces to ensure higher visibility of sources.
The latest move on Google’s part comes amid mounting pressure from publishers who claim AI-generated results and summaries are “cannibalizing” web traffic.
AI-powered search results display answers directly on the search page, allowing users to skim information without opening related links or original content. As a result, publishers and content creators are suffering from revenue losses.
In response to the cannibalization discussion, Stein came up with a new explanation, saying the new UI makes it easier to access “great content” instead of hiding it under a pile of AI-powered results like AI Overview and AI Mode.
“Our testing has shown that this new UI is more engaging and makes it easier to get great content on the web,” Stein wrote.
Despite facing pressure from publishers, Google is also under attack on a number of fronts.
For example, competition between OpenAI and tech giants is increasing as ChatGPT makers are developing their own search products to compete with tech giants.
Additionally, various AI platforms, including Google, have come under scrutiny from regulators in the United States and Europe, who have raised concerns about their use.
