Source: Search Engine Journal
Google faces a direct business problem: AI Overviews that synthesize answers without prominent link attribution erode publisher traffic and advertiser reach. By pushing inline links higher and expanding carousel display, Google is attempting to balance its AI ambitions against search ecosystem dependencies. The shift is visible to anyone who loses clicks when an LLM answers first. Google recognizes that neither publishers nor users will accept a search experience where attribution and source verification become secondary to summary speed.