On Friday, Google began to test SGE-based AI overviews in the real Google search results. That means you may see AI overview snapshot answers in Google search results without being opted into the Google search labs experiment. This is being tested on a small subset of searchers based in the U.S., Google told me.
Want to know more about SGE, see my original story on Google Search Generative Experience. Keep in mind, the original Search Labs end date was December 2023, but then Google simply removed the date and left it as a labs experiment.
Now Google is testing showing the AI overviews, maybe SGE light, here is a screenshot of that, in Google Search for some users who didn’t ask for it.
Here is a more full version of the AI overviews:
Google told me that on Friday they started to test AI Overviews on a small percentage of search traffic in the U.S. for certain categories of queries. Ads will continue to show, Google expressed to me.
They decided to expand the test to those beyond who have opted in “to get feedback and learn how a more general population will find this technology helpful.”
Google is now experimenting with AI overviews in Search for a subset of queries on a small percentage of search traffic in the U.S. Google may expand that test to more users over time, maybe in more regions.