22:47Machine-translated from Azerbaijani by AIRead in Azerbaijani
Google Makes Site Links More Prominent in AI Search Answers
“Google” is making site links more prominent in AI-generated search answers. In the “AI Mode” and “AI Overviews” sections, links will appear higher up in answers and more frequently. According to the company, this will make it easier to open key sources when needed. The change comes amid concerns that AI answers are replacing traditional lists of links and sending fewer visitors to websites.
“Google” is also testing a separate links section at the top of answers for some searches. This section will appear when there are only 1 or 2 official websites where users can complete a specific task or obtain precise information. For example, relevant official pages will be highlighted in a search about getting a refund from an airline. Each link will also include a brief explanation of why it is useful. The link carousels announced in May for current articles are being rolled out to more regions and languages. The “Preferred Sources” feature is also expanding to new markets, and its use has increased 7-fold since its launch earlier this year. Image previews and a clearer link design are being added to the “Dive Deeper” section at the end of answers. The goal is to make it easier for readers to access additional sources. In another test, the names of creators and publications in video results are being turned into clickable links. When users tap a name, they will be able to open that creator’s or publication’s “Search” profile. Available only to accounts that meet the eligibility requirements, the profiles will include brief information about the author or publication and their other work. This will make it easier to investigate the source of material shown in an answer. “Google” has also released new figures for the “News AI” pilot program it announced in December. More than 400 publications currently participate in the program, and the number of partners continues to grow. This licensing program pays publications for the use of a broader range of their content in new AI features. These features include detailed article summaries that appear on publication pages in “Google News.”
“Google” is also testing a separate links section at the top of answers for some searches. This section will appear when there are only 1 or 2 official websites where users can complete a specific task or obtain precise information. For example, relevant official pages will be highlighted in a search about getting a refund from an airline. Each link will also include a brief explanation of why it is useful. The link carousels announced in May for current articles are being rolled out to more regions and languages. The “Preferred Sources” feature is also expanding to new markets, and its use has increased 7-fold since its launch earlier this year. Image previews and a clearer link design are being added to the “Dive Deeper” section at the end of answers. The goal is to make it easier for readers to access additional sources. In another test, the names of creators and publications in video results are being turned into clickable links. When users tap a name, they will be able to open that creator’s or publication’s “Search” profile. Available only to accounts that meet the eligibility requirements, the profiles will include brief information about the author or publication and their other work. This will make it easier to investigate the source of material shown in an answer. “Google” has also released new figures for the “News AI” pilot program it announced in December. More than 400 publications currently participate in the program, and the number of partners continues to grow. This licensing program pays publications for the use of a broader range of their content in new AI features. These features include detailed article summaries that appear on publication pages in “Google News.”