Google has said it will immediately start testing new changes that will allow a “subset of website owners” in the UK to manage how their links and content appear in generative AI search features.
Mrinalini Loew, general manager at Google Search Ecosystem, wrote in a blog post today:
double quotation markWe’re also actively listening to feedback from publishers and creators, and engaging with regulators like the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority to ensure website owners have the right tools as user preferences evolve. Today, we’re beginning to test a new control that lets website owners manage how their links and content appear in generative AI Search features.
A new tool will allow website owners to decide if they want their site to appear in and help “ground responses” in Google’s AI search features such as AI overviews and AI mode.
The control will not be used as a ranking signal for search results outside the generative AI Search features, Loew said.
double quotation markWe’re also starting to roll out new insights for website owners in Search Console about the appearance of their pages in generative AI Search features. These insights include impressions metrics and information about which pages appear in AI responses and in what countries. We’re continuing to work with website owners to understand what insights will be most helpful to inform their strategies, and we’ll introduce additional metrics over time.
We are beginning to roll these features out to a subset of website owners in the UK, allowing for thorough testing before rolling them out to website owners globally. As AI opens up new opportunities for discovery, we’ll keep improving our experiences to help people explore the web, and keep building tools for websites to better engage their audiences
