How to Get Featured in Google’s AI Overview? Tools and Strategies for 2025
Google’s AI Overview is now the new king of the SERP, and AI is changing the rules of SEO. Blue links and metadata are no longer the exclusive components of search. Google AI Overview will be the new gatekeeper of visibility in 2025, changing the way people discover and trust brands. That AI-generated summary block at the top of search results, which provides an answer to the query before anyone even scrolls, is likely something you’ve seen. This is Google’s AI Overview, which stealthily diverts traffic from sponsored advertisements, snippets, and organic rankings.
Quick Stat:
As of March 2025, 13.14% of all U.S. desktop searches trigger Google AI Overviews, doubling since January. (Source: Semrush AI Overviews Study)
At the same time, total Google search impressions have surged 49% year-over-year, while click‑through rates dropped nearly 30%, thanks to AI-generated summaries at the top. (Source: BrightEdge Press Release)
If you’re not being cited or mentioned in AI Overviews, you’re losing out even if you’re ranking #1 in traditional search results. But here’s the good news: Getting featured isn’t just for the big guys. With the right strategy, tools, and formatting, any brand can become the source AI trusts.
What this blog addresses:
- What is the Google AI Overview?
- How it chooses what to summarize
- What Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) means in 2025
- The best tools to track your mentions
- A simple checklist to get featured faster
- What is the Google AI Overview?
Let’s dive into the future of search and learn how to turn AI’s spotlight onto your content.
What’s the Big Deal with Google AI Overview?
In a word? Your clicks are being stolen, and SEO is being redefined. Google AI Overview is an AI-driven feature that appears at the top of many search results, summarizing information from multiple sources into a single, clear, and concise response. Users are not required to click, scroll, or search. They get the answer they were looking for immediately, and your content may be cited or disregarded. You do not have any control over this. While traditional rankings are still important, users no longer view them first.
Here’s what makes AI Overview such a big deal:
- It hijacks visibility: AI Overviews show up above some advertisements, featured snippets, and even organic results.
- It reduces clicks: users can usually find what they’re seeking in the summary, rendering your product page or blog post outdated unless you’re included in the answer generated by AI.
- It levels the playing field: The top 10 Google results are not where 85% of the sources listed in AI Overviews originate.
Translation: You don’t have to be #1 anymore, but you do have to be AI-friendly. And that’s exactly why Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is emerging as the new playbook for content strategy in 2025. It’s not about just ranking high, it’s about being trusted enough by AI so that it quotes you. So, yes, the big deal is this:
If you’re not featured in Google AI Overview, your content may lose its visibility and in turn, relevance.
Let’s fix that.
What Is Google AI Overview?
Think of it like this:
Google AI Overview = Google Gemini + Google Search + TL;DR mode
Many search results have Google’s AI-generated summary box at the top. It provides consumers with a succinct, AI-written response that pulls data from several websites, including (ideally) yours, rather than a list of ten blue links.
How It Works:
- Understands the query – Large language models, such as Gemini 2.0, are used by Google to understand the intent behind the question.
- Scans its LLM dataset – Google taps into its LLM dataset to surface the most contextually relevant answers to the query.
- Scans the web – It extracts relevant data from several reliable sources.
- Summarizes intelligently – The AI then provides a thorough response directly on the search page.
Why It Matters:
- It bypasses traditional SEO logic – your page doesn’t need to rank #1 to be included.
- It remixes content – Google might summarize your blog post without sending you traffic.
- It changes how users search – people are relying on AI-generated answers more than ever.
AI Overview is essentially Google’s answer to programs like Perplexity and ChatGPT. “We’ll answer your question before you even leave the page,” is how Google puts it. The goal of the new SEO strategy is to become the reliable source that AI uses, whereas the previous one may have been centered on keyword ranking. And that’s where Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) comes in. More on that soon.
Join us today and experience the power of AI.
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is the process of optimizing your material to appear in AI-generated responses and recommendations. GEO focuses on changing how AI systems perceive and display your material, as opposed to traditional SEO, which aims for the highest rankings in search engine results. Increasing the visibility and recognition of your brand in AI-driven outputs is the aim.
AI Search Platforms
Google's AI Overview (earlier known as Search Generative Experience (SGE), ChatGPT, and Perplexity.
Real World GEO Implementation AI-Generated Summaries:
GEO aims to have AI models generate summaries that highlight your content as a source of information.
Citations in AI Responses:
GEO aims to have AI models cite your content in their responses, demonstrating your content's authority and relevance. For a more detailed explanation, read our blog on What is Generative Engine Optimization?
From Google SGE to AI Overview: A Drama-Filled Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| May 2023 | Google announces Search Generative Experience (SGE) |
| March 2024 | AI Overviews tested in the main search results |
| May 2024 | Official launch of Google AI Overview in the US |
| August 2024 | Rollout to the UK, India, Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, and Brazil |
| April 2025 | - Google confirms the AI Overviews link to their search results. - AI Overviews begin testing on YouTube. |
| May 2025 | AI Mode rolled out to all users in the U.S |
Source: Ahrefs
Google AI Overview vs. SERP Rankings: What’s the Difference?
Google’s AI Overview may appear to be simply another search function, but it operates according to entirely different guidelines. The highest-ranking pages are not always given preference; relevance to the query is of utmost importance.
- AI Overviews appear at the top of the page, above traditional search results, often before featured snippets.
- SERP Rankings are based on Google’s classic algorithm, ranking pages by relevance and authority.
- Overlap: Only 15% of AI Overview responses now come from the top 10 organic search results.
This means that 85% of the sources featured in AI Overviews are from beyond the top 10, giving websites that don’t traditionally rank at the top of Google’s SERP a real opportunity to appear in AI-generated summaries!
Table: AI Overview vs. SERP Ranking
| Feature | Google AI Overview | Traditional SERP Rankings |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Above all, organic results | Below AI Overview |
| Source Diversity | Multiple, diverse sources | Top-ranking pages |
| Content Type | Summaries, lists, media | Webpage links |
| User Clicks | May reduce organic clicks | Main source of organic traffic |
| Visibility | Can feature content beyond page 1 | Relies on the top 10 rankings |
| Interactivity | Follow-ups & multi-part queries via AI Mode | Static, no interactive follow-up |
Do You Know What ChatGPT is Saying about Your Brand?
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How Google Picks Content for AI Overview (Hint: It’s Not Just Rankings)
Do you think being in the AI Overview is guaranteed if you rank #1 on Google? Rethink that idea. According to the Semrush AI Overviews Study (2025), 85% of the sources listed in Google’s AI Overviews don’t even show up in the top 10 organic search results.
Google isn’t just picking and choosing based on the keyword match. It’s AI filters content based on value, clarity, and relevance to the user’s query, not just SERP position.
What does Google’s AI look for when deciding which content to feature:
1. Query Intent Match
Does your material give a clear and direct answer to the user’s question? AI Overview chooses content that provides value quickly instead of just summarizing. The intent of the query is very important in AI Overview. Your response may be overlooked if it contains unnecessary details or distractions.
2. Clarity & Structure
AI prefers content that is easy to skim and rephrase. Well-structured formatting can make all the difference.
Use
- Descriptive H2s and H3s
- Bullet points and numbered lists
- FAQs, summary boxes, and takeaways
The goal is to make it simple for AI and humans to scan, understand, and use your content.
3. Authoritativeness
Google’s AI looks for trusted voices. If your content shows expertise and credibility, you’re in a better position to be cited.
Make sure you include:
- Author bios and credentials
- Original research or insights
- Cited statistics with reputable links
- Signals of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
- Author bios and credentials
4. Freshness
Outdated content is ignored. Keep your articles and data up to date. AI Overviews focus on content that has been updated within the last 6 to 12 months. It helps AI to ensure that the information it is giving out is up to date and accurate.
5. Unique Value
Are you just repeating what everyone else says, or offering something new?
- Contrarian takes
- Case studies
- Expert quotes
- Visual explainers (charts, graphs, infographics)
- Contrarian takes
Treat each post as a resource for humans and machines. Explain things clearly, but provide enough depth so that AI finds your perspective valuable. Ranking high in traditional search helps, but it is not a requirement for appearing in the Google AI Overview. The real question is whether AI would trust your content enough to teach someone else with it.
How to Check If You’re Already in Google AI Overview
So, are you in or out? Google doesn’t provide a dashboard to tell you if your site is featured in AI Overviews. But that doesn’t mean you’re flying blind. Here’s how to check if your content is appearing in AI-generated summaries, both manually and automatically:
Step-by-Step: Manual Check
1. Search Like Your Audience
Go to Google and type in prompts such as:
- “Best [your product type] for [use case]”
AI Overview pulls from multiple sources, not just top-ranking articles, to recommend tools like Microsoft Teams and Trello. It’s a perfect example of how Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) can help your product or guide get featured based on usefulness, not just rankings.
- “How to [solve a problem your content addresses]”
Asana’s blog page on organizing tasks and projects at work is currently featured in the AI Overview for the query “How to organize tasks and projects at work.” This shows how Google’s AI highlights brand content that provides clear, actionable answers, even if it’s not a blog post. Educational pages, resource hubs, and customer programs can all gain AI Overview visibility when they are optimized properly.
- “[Your brand or competitor name] vs [alternative]”
Monday.com’s official website is featured directly in Google’s AI Overview for the query “Monday vs Notion.”This shows that branded, well-structured content, when aligned with user intent, can earn a spot in AI-generated summaries, even in competitive comparisons.
2. Look for the AI Overview card.
If Google triggers an AI Overview, it will appear above the search results, often before featured snippets or ads.
This AI Overview appears above all traditional results for the search “Notion vs Trello.”
It highlights product comparisons pulled from multiple sources, showing how AI summarizes relevant, structured content instead of just relying on top-ranked links.
3. Inspect the summary content.
Ask yourself:
- Is any of it paraphrased from your article?
- Is your brand or product mentioned directly?
- Are any links to your site cited as sources? (Sometimes it’s visible; sometimes not.)
- Is any of it paraphrased from your article?
4. Try follow-up prompts.
“Ask a follow-up” is a new user behavior triggered by AI search tools such as Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity. Users no longer settle for just one answer; they click prompts like:
- “What’s a cheaper alternative?”
- “How does this compare to [Competitor]?”
- “Can I migrate my data?”
This creates new chances for your brand to appear, even if you weren’t the first answer.
How to Optimize for Follow-Up Prompts
Let’s say your SaaS product is a CRM alternative to HubSpot.
When a user searches:
“Best CRM for small businesses.”
The AI result may first show HubSpot or Salesforce.
But AI also suggests:
- “What are the top HubSpot alternatives?”
- “Which CRM is easiest to migrate to?”
- “How do these compare on pricing?”
That’s where your improved content comes in.
AI Monitor in Action: Track Mentions, Benchmark Competitors, Optimize Smarter
Most marketers believe that once content is published, it begins to work. But with generative AI engines changing how users find products, you are now dealing with three unseen questions:
1. Is your brand being cited in AI answers?
Tools like ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews summarize sources, but do they include you? AI Brand Monitor tracks how often and where your brand appears. This way, you can close citation gaps before your competitors win the click.+
2. Are AI bots reading your content?
Even if your blog ranks, AI crawlers, which don’t act like traditional bots, might be skipping your site. AI Bot Monitor detects which generative engines are crawling your pages and which aren’t.
3 What traffic is coming from AI tools, and what’s converting?
Traditional analytics often miss this. AI referral traffic usually shows up as “direct” or gets lost in the noise. AI Traffic Monitor separates human visits from AI-influenced clicks. This helps reveal the true impact.
While Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is a strong use case, AI Monitor offers much more. It tracks how often AI models mention your brand. It identifies which bots visit your site. It also finds out if you’re missing traffic influenced by ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google’s AI Overview. AI Monitor gives you a full picture of your performance on the AI-driven web. Whether you’re a fast-moving startup or a global brand, you need to see AI as more than just a trend; it’s a new distribution channel.
Want to see what else AI Monitor can do?
These aren’t future problems. They’re happening now.
The brands that adapt early will dominate zero-click and AI-powered search visibility
