AI Overviews (SGE): The New Reality of Google Search

What Are AI Overviews?

AI Overviews (formerly Search Generative Experience / SGE) are Google-generated AI summaries that appear above organic search results. They answer queries directly with synthesized information from multiple sources.

Current Adoption:

• Activated by default in the US since 2024
• Gradual rollout to additional markets (EU, UK, DACH)
• Appear for approximately 15–30% of all search queries (as of 2025)
• Particularly common for informational and comparative queries

How Are Sources Selected for AI Overviews?

• Pages with high topical authority and structured information
• Clear, concise answers to specific questions
• Current, regularly updated content
• Correct Schema.org markup
• Strong E-E-A-T signals (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)

Optimizing for AI Overviews:

• Answer questions directly and structurally (paragraphs of 40–60 words)
• Support factual statements with data and sources
• Defined sections with clear headings (H2/H3)
• Use lists and tables for comparable data
• Add Schema.org markup to FAQ sections

Impact on Traffic:

AI Overviews can reduce click-through traffic to source pages (zero-click effect) but significantly increase brand visibility. Optimization should focus on branding and authority building.

In the CAFE framework, a website's AI Overview capability is specifically analyzed — so your content appears as a cited source in AI summaries.