What to Expect as Google AI Mode Traffic Data Comes to Search Console

The SEO world has been buzzing with Google’s rollout of AI Overviews—a feature that summarizes answers using generative AI at the top of search results. While these AI-driven search features have started changing how users interact with Google, marketers have been left somewhat in the dark when it comes to data transparency. That’s about to change.

In a significant move for the SEO community, Google has announced that traffic and impressions generated via AI Overviews will soon appear in Search Console under a dedicated section called “AI Overviews.” This addition will help marketers better understand the visibility and performance of their content within Google’s generative AI results.

Let’s break down what this means for your SEO reporting—and how you can prepare to take full advantage.

A Quick Refresher: What Are Google AI Overviews?

AI Overviews also known as Search Generative Experience (SGE) are the AI-generated answers that appear above the traditional organic listings in Google Search. They summarize information from multiple sources and present it in a conversational format. This feature is currently rolling out gradually in the U.S., with global expansion expected.

While great for users seeking quick answers, AI Overviews introduced a challenge for SEOs: content was being used by Google AI, but there was no visibility into the impact. That’s where the new update to Search Console comes in.

What’s Changing in Google Search Console?

Google will soon introduce a new filter in the Performance report specifically labeled "AI Overviews."

This means:

  • You’ll be able to track how many clicks and impressions your website receives from AI Overviews.

  • You’ll be able to compare this traffic source against traditional web, image, video, and news traffic.

  • You can segment and analyze AI Overview data by query, page, country, and device—just like any other Search Console data.

Why This Is a Big Deal for SEO Reporting

  1. Visibility Into a New Layer of Search
    Before this update, content featured in AI Overviews could drive traffic—but you wouldn’t know it. Now, you can attribute performance more accurately and identify which content types are surfacing in AI results.

  2. Smarter Content Strategy
    You’ll be able to identify which pages Google considers “helpful” enough to include in AI summaries. This gives you clues on what types of content to create more of, especially for informational and topical authority-building strategies.

  3. Better Forecasting and Benchmarking
    Having traffic data from AI Overviews allows you to incorporate this segment into your monthly and quarterly reporting, helping you distinguish between traditional SEO performance and emerging AI-generated visibility.

  4. Identify Query Intent Trends
    Since Search Console allows filtering by query, you’ll start to notice which kinds of questions or long-tail queries are being surfaced more in AI results. This is essential for zero-click search planning and content targeting.

How to Prepare: Action Steps for SEO Pros

  • Update Your Dashboards
    Prepare to integrate the new AI Overview traffic filter into Google Data Studio or Looker dashboards once available. Segment by page, query, and device for deeper insights.

  • Re-Evaluate Your Content for AI Visibility
    Content that’s concise, fact-based, and well-structured is more likely to be used by AI Overviews. Make sure your key pages are optimized for topical depth and clarity.

  • Monitor Changes in CTR
    One possible outcome of AI Overviews is a drop in click-through rate for certain queries. With the new data, you’ll be able to analyze whether your pages are being referenced but not clicked—a new SEO challenge to address.

  • Look for Content Re-Use Opportunities
    If certain content is getting featured in AI Overviews, explore how you can repurpose it into short-form video, social content, or featured snippets to expand its value.

Will This Impact Rankings? Not Directly—but Indirectly, Yes.

Being included in an AI Overview isn’t the same as ranking #1. However, if your content is consistently featured, it can improve brand visibility, user trust, and even traffic. That said, these AI responses might reduce traditional clicks—so it’s important to monitor net traffic gains or losses.

This new reporting also encourages SEO professionals to diversify their strategy—not relying solely on blue links, but optimizing for all types of search features.

How Orange SEO Can Help You Adapt

At Orange SEO, we’ve been closely following Google’s AI evolution and are actively adjusting our client reporting and strategies to account for these changes.

We help our clients:

  • Understand which content is being pulled into AI Overviews.

  • Optimize pages to improve chances of AI visibility.

  • Analyze the impact of AI traffic versus traditional organic.

  • Forecast trends in user behavior across AI and non-AI surfaces.

Whether you’re an enterprise site or a growing small business, adapting to Google’s AI-first direction is no longer optional—it’s necessary for long-term SEO success.

Final Thoughts

Google’s decision to surface AI Overview traffic in Search Console is a welcome step toward more transparent SEO performance tracking. While it won’t solve all the attribution challenges of AI-powered search, it provides a critical new lens into how users are engaging with your brand in an evolving search landscape.

As AI continues to influence the SERP layout and user journeys, marketers who embrace this data early will have a strategic edge.