Google AI Overview is a feature within Google Search that provides AI-generated summaries and information at the top of search results. It is powered by Google’s custom artificial intelligence model, Gemini, and is designed to help users find detailed and contextually relevant information from a variety of online sources.
The following guide is designed to help you understand the Google AI overview, how it works, and how it aligns with Google’s Search Productive Experience initiative.
Understanding the Google AI Overview
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Google AI Overview was previously part of SGE, a feature within Google Search that allowed users to use Google’s generative AI technology for text and image-based searches. It has since evolved into a broader experiment that expands Google’s generative AI capabilities to more parts of the search experience.
Google AI Overview relies on Google Gemini, the software giant’s custom large language model, to provide snapshot-type answers to users’ search queries (hence “overview”). Because Gemini is integrated into Google’s main web ranking system, AI Overview can find and pull relevant information from Google’s own index.
The system is designed to make it easier for users to find information from multiple sources. For example, if you are looking for information about climate change, AI Overview can provide a concise answer with key facts and figures, as well as links for further reading. In doing so, AI Overview reduces the effort it takes to find information by doing all the work for users – or so the theory says.
Key Features of Google AI Overviews
Multi-step reasoning
AI Overview can handle complex, multi-part user questions by piecing together related information and providing more nuanced responses as a result. For example, you could search “Show me the best gyms with no joining fees within a 30-minute drive,” and AI Overview will show you nearby gyms, their distance from you, and any relevant sign-up offers (Figure A,
Similarly, when asking a prompt like “What are good options for places to visit with kids in Dallas? Recommend some ice cream shops near each option,” the AI overview could respond with a list of family-friendly ideas, each accompanied by nearby ice cream shops and a map showing their location.
Planning and brainstorming support
In addition to answering questions, AI Overview can help users plan activities or gather ideas for projects by aggregating relevant information and resources. For example, you can search “create a five-day high protein meal plan that’s easy to prepare,” and AI Overview will aggregate recipes from across the web to give you a starting point. From there, you can customize responses, such as asking about vegetarian options, and add necessary ingredients to your shopping list.
Starting this summer, users will also be able to use AI overviews to plan trips. This was demonstrated by Sisi Hsiao, Google’s vice president and general manager of Gemini Experience, during Google I/O.
During the demo, Hsiao gave an example, saying: “My family and I are going to Miami for Labor Day. My son loves art and my husband really likes fresh seafood. Can you get my flight and hotel information from Gmail and help me plan a weekend?” Gemini will then provide a customized itinerary by gathering information from Maps, Search and Gmail, including things like flight schedules and suitable dinner spots nearby from the hotel.
Google plans to add more customization capabilities later this year, including more comprehensive recommendations for less specific prompts. For example, “anniversary celebration dinner locations Dallas” could highlight places with a more romantic atmosphere or — weather permitting — rooftop dining.
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Video-based search
In the future, AI Overview will be able to understand and answer questions uploaded in video form; this means users will be able to shoot a video of something, ask questions about it, and AI Overview will help them. Google says this will make it easier to find answers to problems without having to type in detailed text descriptions (Figure B,
AI Overviews vs. Google SGE
Google introduced generative AI to its search platform on October 12, 2023, as part of SGE. It was an experiment conducted by Google Search Labs that initially allowed users to generate AI-powered images and text directly from the search bar. It was intended to provide more creative answers to questions that traditional search results could not fully address.
SGE has now become AI Overview, which was rolled out to users in the US on May 14 following the Google I/O 2024 conference. On August 15, Google expanded it to six additional countries: the UK, India, Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, and Brazil. Google aims to make AI Overview available to more than a billion people by the end of 2024.
How to access, customize, or disable AI observations
To access the AI overview, just do a regular search on Google. If it is relevant to your query, the overview generated by the AI will appear at the top of the search results, just like a knowledge panel.
There’s currently no default option to disable AI overviews completely. The Google support page notes, “AI overviews are part of Google Search like other features, such as Knowledge Panel, and can’t be turned off.” In such a case, the best you can do is to ignore them and focus on traditional search results instead. If you prefer the usual list of links, you can go to the Web tab at the top of the Google search results page. Alternatively, you can go the custom web extension route, in which case we recommend caution.
Regarding customization, Google plans to introduce options that allow users to adjust the complexity of the language used in AI Overview or expand the results it provides. Users will be able to enter a prompt and choose between the original answer, a simplified version, or the option to break it down into more detail. This will make AI Overview more useful for a wider range of users, from novices to experts.
AI challenges and user feedback overview
The rollout of Google AI Overview hasn’t been smooth. In late May, Google was asked to rethink the feature after it produced some questionable results. Google attributed these problems to its AI models’ misunderstanding or misinterpreting language nuances, as well as gaps in available quality information, such as advice on how many stones each person should eat each day. (Note: TechRepublic strongly advises against eating stones.)
In response, Google Search chief Liz Read said the company would “continue to improve when and how we show AI insights and strengthen our protections, including for edge cases.” The improvements include refining AI insights to better interpret sarcastic content and nonsensical questions, and adding restrictions to prevent AI from being triggered in situations where it can’t provide useful information.
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