Google announced on October 15, 2026 that it will show links to websites and articles more prominently in AI Mode and AI Overviews. News agency AFP reported the announcement on October 16, in the context of publishers warning about sharp falls in traffic.
What was announced
- Links inside AI-generated answers will appear more often and higher up on the page.
- The row of article cards shown below AI Overviews, known as a carousel, is being expanded worldwide.
- Google is testing two further changes: a section of links to official sites, and creator names that lead to a profile page. We covered the details in our earlier article on the October 15 changes.
What publishers are reporting
The AFP report cites figures from the analytics company Chartbeat: news websites received about 40% less traffic from Google between July 2025 and July 2026. This comes from a single analytics report, and Google’s announcement does not describe any effect on site traffic. Google also did not give a list of countries or exact dates for each change.
What this does and does not mean
Showing links earlier gives your pages a better chance of being seen. It does not show that clicks will return to earlier levels. Neither Google nor the reports we reviewed give click data for the new link placements, so nobody can yet measure the effect.
What to do
- Measure before you react. Compare clicks and impressions for your most-cited pages over several weeks. The Search Console generative AI report shows impressions, though not clicks.
- Do not rely on one channel. If Google is the main source of your readers, build a direct route as well: an email list, an installable app, social channels.
- Make the answer easy to find. Put the main point near the top of each page in plain text, and show who wrote it and what the sources are.
- Wait for evidence before changing strategy. Parts of this announcement are still tests.
