According to a recent study, AI-generated overviews show up in about 30% of search queries, and in nearly three-quarters of problem-solving queries.
- AI Overviews appear in fewer than one-third of search queries—around 30% out of 10,000 keywords studied, which amounts to only 11% of total search volume.
- The highest percentage of AI-reviewed keywords is found in industrial sectors (56%), while the lowest is in the cosmetics industry (14%). This suggests that navigational queries—such as looking for a specific website—rarely trigger AI overviews, which tend to focus on general knowledge rather than direct navigation.
- Generic (non-branded) queries are more likely to trigger AI overviews.
- Impact on traditional organic results: When users expand the AI overview on desktop by clicking “Show more,” the page content shifts down by approximately 220 pixels. This shift often pushes organic search results off the visible screen.
- On mobile, only one or two organic listings may be visible without scrolling, making life tougher for SEO professionals.
- High-ranking URLs are more likely to appear in AI overviews—but not always. About half of top-ranked pages are included, but some lower-ranking pages also make it in.
- Websites recognized for their expertise, especially in finance and healthcare, are commonly featured in AI-generated content.
- AI overviews are still relatively new, but their influence is growing rapidly.
- They mostly appear in medium-volume search queries, rather than those with extremely high traffic.
- Problem-solving and question-based queries are most likely to trigger AI overviews.
- Authoritative websites are more likely to be cited in AI overviews.
- If your site is in a field that requires in-depth research or carries high stakes, expect more AI overview competition.
- Even if AI overviews aren’t common in your region now, that may change as search engines improve their language models and gather more user data.
The report concludes that AI overviews significantly impact visibility and user engagement in search results.
Source: Authoritas
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