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The world of search is rapidly changing with the rise of AI.
In response, Google rolled out Google SGE or Search Generative Experience, as noted in their 2023 announcement.
Since then, Google has specified in one of their guides, AI Overviews and more, that the AI Overviews project has taken the place of their Google SGE experiment.
So, what was Google SGE and how did Google’s experiment impact how the search engine works today?
Let’s take a closer look.
Before AI Overviews replaced Google SGE, it was Google’s artificial intelligence project, which generated contextual responses to user search queries.
Essentially, Google’s AI rapidly searched through the SERP (search engine results pages), gathered what it believed to be the right answer to a user’s question (more on that later!), and produced a short, digestible response at the top of the results.
It also allowed users to ask follow-up questions, essentially keeping them on the first page of Google to find their answers.
Google SGE is similar to popular AI tools like ChatGPT, leveraging the capabilities of generative AI. In this case, Google SGE used generative AI to formulate answers based on web content and respond to search requests with a quick, concise overview.
It is not farfetched to say that as a result of Google SGE and now, AI Overviews, how consumers get answers to their questions and how websites are discovered via search engines is experiencing rapid changes.
Google’s AI Overviews now appear at the top of many search terms, and organically ranked websites are pushed further down the page.
Essentially, this means that fewer people will need to scroll down past the AI Overview (which often has the answer they need) and click on a website to find information.
Users will often get their answers quicker. However, if users don’t click on the websites that AI Overviews links or references, they may miss out on the complete answer to their query.
There are some limitations to Google SGE and AI Overviews, which it is important to be aware of.
In Google’s Supercharging Search with generative AI announcement, Google noted that “There are known limitations with generative AI and LLMs, and Search, even today, will not always get it right.”
This raises a key concern around misinformation and incorrect answers that it’s important to factor in, especially if AI hallucinations occur (when AI presents false information as fact).
When Google’s AI Overviews were first rolled out, there were notable concerns surrounding misinformation, as reported by the BBC in their article, “Glue pizza and eat rocks: Google AI search errors go viral.”
Google addressed this, as well as the fake screenshots that were altered to be misleading and spread misinformation about AI Overviews, in a May 2024 announcement, AI Overviews: About last week.
So, while there are benefits to generative AI for search, there are also limitations that it is important to be aware of. It raises concerns that potential misinformation could provide users with incorrect information, preventing them from making informed decisions for their particular query.
If you aren’t sure about whether the content you’re reading is correct, using the Originality.ai fact checker is a convenient way to review information and cross-reference it with additional sources.
The big question is, if AI Overviews are shown above search results, how do you create content that Google uses for their AI responses?
After all, these AI Overviews often include source links, so how do content creators become one of those links?
Semrush notes that the best way to optimize content to rank well in AI Overviews is to follow SEO best practices like incorporating long-tail keywords and improving overall user experience such as page and mobile loading speed.
Additionally, incorporate GEO (generative engine optimization) into your editorial workflow, such as with AI-friendly schema markups which may play a notable role. You need to ensure your content is as easy as possible for AI to access. The easier it is for the algorithm to access your content, the more likely it is to use it.
Google SGE helped to pave the way for AI Overviews, which Google is now continuing to roll out and expand to more than 100 countries.
This highlights a number of changes in the world of search, as generative AI plays an increasingly important role. However, Google still continues to focus on people-first content, so brands still need to prioritize high-quality content to successively complement SEO with GEO.
While Google’s AI Overviews may seem like the ideal result for users, there are limitations to consider, as they can push down organic search results, which could lead to lower traffic.
Further, it’s important to review AI content carefully and fact-check it to reduce the risk of AI hallucinations and misinformation.
Review content with Originality.ai’s industry-leading AI checker and best-in-class fact checker.
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