Google Search Snippet Description Got It Wrong

11/17/25
Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of Google’s AI-Generated Search Snippet Fails Spectator’s Expectations

Google’s AI-generated snippet for a Spectator article was not only inaccurate but also insulting, labeling the page a “very long-winded version” without using any text from the actual content. This highlights the risks of AI in search descriptions, as Google sometimes rewrites meta descriptions unpredictably. The incident sparked significant discussion within the SEO community about AI’s interpretation of web page content.

Optimixed’s Overview: When AI Misrepresents Content – Google’s Controversial Search Snippet Example

Google’s AI and Search Snippet Generation

Google has increasingly incorporated machine learning and AI to create search result snippets, aiming to provide users with concise and relevant descriptions. According to Google’s documentation, snippets are usually derived from the page content itself or the meta description if it offers a better summary.

The Spectator Snippet Incident

  • Example Highlight: Andrew Cock-Starkey shared a LinkedIn post showing Google’s AI-generated snippet describing a Spectator article as a “very long-winded version” of its topic.
  • Inaccuracy: These words were not present anywhere on the page, nor in the meta description.
  • Contrast: A non-AI generated snippet used the actual page content, providing a more accurate summary.

Implications for SEO and Content Creators

This incident illustrates the challenges and unpredictability of relying on AI for snippet generation. It serves as a reminder that despite advances, AI can inject subjective or misleading interpretations into search results, potentially affecting how users perceive content.

For SEO professionals, it underscores the importance of monitoring search snippets and advocating for clearer control mechanisms over how meta descriptions and content are presented in search.