Google just expanded the number of links inside AI Overviews. That may sound lik
By Will Haire · May 21, 2026 · Curated by George's Blog
Google just expanded the number of links inside AI Overviews.
That may sound like a small search update.
⤷ It isn’t.
For a while, one of the biggest concerns around AI-generated search experiences was simple:
AI summarized the answer, but websites often received less traffic.
Now Google is adding more source references directly into AI-generated responses, creating more opportunities for users to click through.
What this signals:
→ Ranking alone is no longer the full game
→ Being referenced inside AI outputs increasingly matters
→ Visibility inside AI search is becoming competitive real estate
For eCommerce operators, this impacts:
• Content strategy
• SEO priorities
• Product discovery
The brands that may be better positioned are creating:
✓ Clear informational content
✓ Structured answers
✓ Strong topical authority
One additional metric operators may need to watch:
Whether your content is becoming a cited source in AI-driven search experiences.