Almost a week after it was revealed that Google AI Overviews dropped in volume and length, Google announced the rolling out of new features in AI Overviews. 

According to Hema Budaraju, Senior Director, Product Management, Search, “We’re sharing a few updates around our ongoing work to connect people to the richness of the web, introducing helpful updates for AI Overviews in Search Labs – and bringing AI Overviews to six new countries."

Key updates on Google’s AI Overviews

New right-hand link display and in-text links

Google will add a new feature where AI Overviews will display links on the right-hand side of the screen for users on desktop computers. For mobile users, this functionality will be accessible through the site icons. 

According to Google, “These updates are starting to roll out globally today for AI Overviews in all launched countries, as well as for Search Labs users in more than 120 countries and territories.”

Additionally, Google is experimenting with integrating links to relevant web pages within the AI Overviews text. Google claimed that the integration of direct links within the overviews is showing promising results in increasing traffic to publisher sites.

New features in the Search Labs

Google is also testing new functionalities in Search Labs, including the ability to save AI Overviews for future reference, and a feature to simplify complex language. Both features are currently available for English queries in the U.S. within the ‘AI Overviews and More’ tool in Search Labs.

Users can now save specific AI Overviews to return to them later. “Just tap the new “save” button underneath your AI Overview, and when you conduct the same search again, you’ll get the same AI Overview in your results.” 

To view the AI Overviews users have saved, they can tap on their profile icon in Google Search and go to the "Interests" page within their profiles.

Also, there’s a feature that allows users to simplify the language of AI Overviews with a single tap. Google claimed that this feature is designed to make it easier for users who are new to a topic to understand the information more clearly. 

Global expansion

Additionally, Google AI Overviews are now available in six new countries including the United Kingdom, India, Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, and Brazil. This expansion comes with localized language support, ensuring users across different regions benefit from the enhanced search capabilities.