Just a few weeks in the past, I reported on how Google was testing displaying deeper Google AI Overviews, perhaps powered by Gemini 2.0, with over 60 hyperlinks and citations in them. Nicely, over the previous few weeks, increasingly of us are seeing these AI Overviews, with dozens of hyperlinks inside them. And we’re asking ourselves, who will click on on these hyperlinks?
I imply, if the AI Overview had perhaps 3 to five hyperlinks, positive, perhaps a searcher will accidently click on on a kind of hyperlinks. However an AI Overview with 40, 50, 60 plus hyperlinks. That’s approach too overwhelming and no searcher will click on on these.
I imply, you’ll be able to set off them fairly simply – this one solely has 16 citations/hyperlinks however many have over 50:
Listed here are extra examples:
Hey @rustybrick – is it new that AIO exhibits 30+ sources? Undecided I’ve ever seen it cite this many websites earlier than. pic.twitter.com/ewwD6adIa9
— Lily Ray 😏 (@lilyraynyc) February 13, 2025
AI overview replace. How about 40 #1 listings? 🙂
I have been seeing this increasingly lately for some well being and medical queries. Google is offering MANY citations for the AIO. Take a look at the checklist under for “flaxseed advantages”… it accommodates 40, sure 40, citations.
The AIO… pic.twitter.com/4YVLRyWKqN
— Glenn Gabe (@glenngabe) February 16, 2025
The query is – once more – who will click on on these citations when (1) Google offers you the reply and (2) there are simply too many hyperlinks and its overwhelming. Plus, this exhibits much more of a purpose for Google to provide us this knowledge inside Search Console – which they possible won’t ever do however they need to.
As Lily wrote, Google: let’s check placing 30+ hyperlinks in AI Overview citations and make the AIO reply take up the complete display, however not give web site house owners a technique to measure visitors from AIO.” As Glenn Gabe additionally wrote, “The AIO itself is not essentially big once I’m seeing this occur, however there are a ton of sources offered. BTW, every itemizing would rank #1 in GSC since they tackle the place of the AIO block. So sure, 40 #1 listings.”
What a multitude for us…
Discussion board dialogue at X.
