Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of Google Tests Clickable Site Names in AI Overviews on Search
Google is **experimenting** with showing **clickable site names** beside link icons in AI Overviews on Search. This update aims to **boost user trust** and **increase click-through rates** by clearly attributing information sources. Currently, the feature appears only in the intro paragraph of AI Overviews, with potential expansion planned. If fully rolled out, it may enhance how users interact with AI-generated summaries.
Optimixed’s Overview: Enhancing Source Transparency with Clickable Site Names in Google AI Overviews
Introduction to the New Feature
Google is actively testing a new interface element within its AI-generated Overviews on Search results: the addition of clickable site names adjacent to link icons. This feature directly connects users to the original websites where the summarized information was sourced, enhancing transparency and trustworthiness.
Details and Current Implementation
- The clickable site names currently appear only in the introduction paragraph of the AI Overview.
- Clicking on these site names redirects users to the corresponding source website, providing easy access to full content.
- This test follows a previous experiment involving author names in AI Overviews, which did not see a wide rollout.
Potential Impact on User Engagement
By making source attribution more visible and interactive, Google aims to:
- Increase click-through rates from AI Overviews to source pages.
- Build greater user confidence in the reliability of AI-generated summaries.
- Encourage users to explore original content beyond the AI snippet.
Future Outlook
While currently limited to the intro paragraph, Google may expand this feature across the entire AI Overview in future updates. If fully implemented, this could redefine how users engage with AI-powered search summaries and improve the overall search experience.
