NewsBite analysis · AI9to5google

Google will let websites opt-out of AI Mode & Overviews in Search

Google has introduced a new opt-out toggle in Search Console allowing publishers to exclude their sites from participation in AI Mode and AI Overviews, effectively removing them from AI-grounded search features while keeping them visible in standard search results. The move comes as part of broader transparency around AI-generated search content. Google also stated that opt-out status will not influence regular rankings and will be tested in a UK subset before broader rollout. In addition, the company is providing new AI-focused search metrics in Search Console, including impressions, which pages appear in AI responses, and geographic distribution. Early data show AI Overviews reaching billions of monthly active users, while AI Mode also commands a substantial user base. The flexibility aims to balance publisher control with the expanding role of AI in search results, potentially reshaping how sites participate in AI-assisted discovery.