Subscribe to Merca2.0 and access more than 3,500 exclusive articles for subscribers. Click Here

Subscribe to Merca2.0. Click Here

How does Google AI Mode affect SEO? A study reveals its real impact on SEO

A study on Google AI Mode shows what types of sources it uses, how its response varies, and its relationship with SERPs and AI Summaries

GOOGLE MODE AI IA SEO

In recent days, Google’s AI Mode has captured the attention of users, technology experts, and especially the SEO community. This mode represents a drastic change in the way users interact with the world’s most popular search engine.

Unlike traditional searches or even AI Overviews, Google’s AI Mode directly generates a miniature article that provides a structured and detailed response to users’ queries. It also uses advanced reasoning techniques and parallel search (query fan-out), breaking down each question into subtopics to deliver an integrated answer with links and citations.

In this regard, a recent SE Ranking study has set off alarm bells in the world of web positioning. The report offers the first comprehensive analysis of how Google AI Mode actually works and how it differs from traditional search and AI Overviews.

READ ALSO. How is Google’s AI mode different? This is how it works

What does the SE Ranking study reveal about Google AI Mode?

The research, conducted by SE Ranking, analyzed more than 10,000 keywords from searches in the United States, where Google has already implemented the feature. The goal was to understand how AI Mode behaves in practice, what types of sources it uses, how its responses vary, and its relationship with organic search results and AI Overviews.

The conclusions have sparked intense debate in the industry:

  • Only 10.7% URL overlap between AI Mode and AI Overviews.
  • Overlap with the Top 10 organic results is just 14% at the URL level and 21.9% at the domain level.
  • High volatility: even when repeating the same search several times a day, the results vary significantly. Only 9.2% of URLs match across three different attempts.
  • On average, each AI Mode response includes 12.6 links, but in some exceptional cases, the number can exceed 50.

Does AI Mode favor certain sources? What domains appear most frequently?

Although Google’s AI Mode is presented as a system offering diverse sources, the SE Ranking study found a clear tendency to prioritize certain domains:

  • Google.com tops the list, appearing in 5.7% of citations, mainly through Google Maps business profiles.
  • Sites like Indeed, Wikipedia, Reddit, and YouTube are among the most cited, showing relative stability in the selection of reliable sources.
  • In terms of links integrated directly into the response text, Amazon.com leads with 2.4%, followed by YouTube, Zillow, and Indeed.

This suggests that while there is some variety, Google AI Mode clearly favors sites considered “authorities” in their respective fields.

What differences are there between Google AI Mode and AI Overviews?

The study highlights fundamental differences between the two systems:

  • AI Overviews show some overlap with organic search results, but AI Mode seems to operate under a completely different set of rules.
  • The domain overlap between AI Overviews and AI Mode is 16%, revealing an entirely different internal logic for content selection.
  • While AI Overviews still coexist with traditional search results, AI Mode in many cases completely replaces the traditional listing, directly presenting the AI-generated answer.

How does Google AI Mode impact SEO and organic traffic?

One of the most concerning aspects of the report is the potential impact of AI Mode on the visibility and traffic of websites:

  • Even if a page ranks in the Top 10 or Top 20 of organic search results, that does not guarantee it will appear in AI Mode responses.
  • The selection criteria for AI Mode do not solely respond to traditional SEO signals, implying that positioning strategies will need to be radically adjusted.
  • The high volatility of responses means that even if a site appears in AI Mode, its presence may not be consistent over time.

In simple terms: optimizing to rank at the top of Google will no longer be enough. It is essential to understand and adapt to the logic of AI Mode.

How stable are AI Mode results?

The SE Ranking report reveals that AI Mode is highly unstable:

  • Only 9.2% of URLs match across AI Mode responses when performing the same search three times on the same day.
  • Even at the domain level, the overlap barely reaches 14.7%.
  • This means that AI Mode results change depending on factors such as location, time of search, or how the AI interprets the user’s intent at that moment.

For marketers and SEO specialists, this adds an extra challenge, making it difficult to predict or secure a website’s inclusion in AI Mode responses.

AI Mode favors Google’s own services

  • 5.7% of links in AI Mode responses lead to Google services, mainly to Google Maps.
  • Google Maps business profiles appear in 9.2% of responses, providing direct visibility for local businesses.
  • Other services like Google Travel and Google Finance also appear, though less frequently.

This suggests that Google’s ecosystem is deeply integrated into AI Mode, which represents both an opportunity and a challenge for businesses that rely on online visibility.

⇒ FOLLOW US ON GOOGLE NEWS

Obtén un més gratis a Merca2.0 premium

Cancela en cualquier momento
Acceso exclusivo a rankings y radiografías.
Análisis profundos y casos de estudio de éxito.
Historial de la revista impresa en formato digital.

¡Disfruta de lo mejor del marketing sin costo alguno por un mes!

Premium

Popular

More in Merca2.0

Related Articles

You don't have credit card details available. You will be redirected to update payment method page. Click OK to continue.

Revista Merca2.0
Resumen de privacidad

Esta web utiliza cookies para que podamos ofrecerte la mejor experiencia de usuario posible. La información de las cookies se almacena en tu navegador y realiza funciones tales como reconocerte cuando vuelves a nuestra web o ayudar a nuestro equipo a comprender qué secciones de la web encuentras más interesantes y útiles.