Google Reportedly Testing Removal of the Citations Card From Desktop AI Overviews
TLDR
Google is reportedly testing removing the citations card that shows source links beneath AI Overviews on desktop search.
What this means for your site
- Status
- Test
- Platform
- Google Search
- Affects
- AI Overviews citations card
- Who
- Desktop Google search users who see AI Overviews
- Effective
- Not specified in the source
- Action needed
- Not specified in the source
Optimixed Overview
Optimixed's original report on this story.
Google may be testing the removal of the citations card that normally appears with AI Overviews on desktop, the card that links users to the sources behind the answer. SERoundtable reports that the change is being tested, though the report is unconfirmed by Google.
How we got here
On September 8, SERoundtable reported that Google was testing a narrower citations panel in AI Overviews. On September 29, Google was testing a redesign that moved AI Overview citation cards from the right side to the bottom of the response on desktop. Later, on October 23, Google was testing AI-generated summary snippets displayed within those citation cards. Now, Google is reportedly testing the removal of the citations card that shows source links beneath AI Overviews on desktop search.
Summary of earlier coverage
- Oct 23Google Tests AI-Generated Summary Snippets in AI Overview Citation Cards
Google is testing AI-generated summary snippets displayed directly within the citation cards that accompany AI Overviews in search results.
- Oct 15Google Updates Link Display in AI Mode and AI Overviews
Google has again adjusted how links appear in AI Mode and AI Overviews, continuing efforts to drive clicks from AI responses to publisher sites.
- Sep 29Google Tests Citation Cards at the Bottom of AI Overviews on Desktop
Google is testing a redesign that moves AI Overview citation cards from the right side to the bottom of the response on desktop.
- Sep 8Google Tests Thinner Design for AI Overview Citations Panel
SERoundtable reports Google is testing a narrower citations panel in AI Overviews that could reduce visibility and clicks to source articles.