AI Mode: Features & Ranking

02/20/26
Source: moz (en-US). Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of Analyzing Early Data from Google’s AI Mode in STAT

The analysis of 40,000 keywords reveals only a 12% overlap between Google’s AI Mode results and traditional organic rankings, indicating a significant shift in search behavior. AI Mode results are notably more verbose and text-heavy, often featuring paragraphs and lists rather than typical organic results. Additionally, AI Mode displays fewer visual elements like image grids and local map packs compared to standard SERPs. The ranking positions of AI Mode results also differ, with organic-like cards appearing mostly at lower positions.

Optimixed’s Overview: Early Insights into Google AI Mode’s Impact on Search Result Dynamics

Introduction to AI Mode and Its Unique Ranking Patterns

Google’s AI Mode introduces a new way of presenting search results by expanding queries into related terms and aggregating broader content. A deep dive into 40,000 keywords tracked in STAT demonstrates that AI Mode’s top 10 URLs only share a 12% overlap with traditional organic search results, highlighting a divergence in what users see.

Key Differences Between AI Mode and Traditional Organic Search

  • Overlap and Ranking: While AI Overviews show an 88% overlap with organic results, AI Mode’s overlap is much lower. The average rank of AI Mode URLs in organic results is around 4.5, indicating selections from higher-ranked but more diverse queries rather than a strict top 10 match.
  • Content Format: AI Mode heavily favors paragraphs of text (nearly 99.5% of results), making it far more verbose than organic SERPs. Lists and other text-heavy blocks are also common, whereas traditional SERPs display a mix of cards, images, videos, and local packs.
  • Visual Elements and SERP Features: AI Mode shows fewer images and map packs compared to regular search results. For example, map packs appear about twice as often in standard SERPs, reflecting AI Mode’s more text-centric presentation.

Positioning of Results within AI Mode

The layout of AI Mode results further differentiates it from traditional SERPs. The very first position in AI Mode is almost always a paragraph block, while elements resembling organic cards tend to appear lower, often near the bottom of the list. This contrasts with regular search results where organic listings frequently occupy top positions.

Implications for SEO Strategy

These findings suggest that SEO approaches may need to adapt to the evolving search landscape shaped by AI Mode. The emphasis on broader, fan-out queries and verbose, text-rich content highlights the importance of comprehensive content strategies that address related topics beyond exact keyword matches. Moreover, the reduced prominence of visual and local features in AI Mode may affect how brands optimize for certain types of searches.