Getting generative AI results in Google Search is an exciting development that transforms how we find information online. Google's Search Generative Experience (SGE), now widely referred to as "AI Overviews and more," leverages large language models to provide AI-generated summaries and answers directly within the search results, often at the top of the page. This means less clicking around and more immediate, synthesized information.
Ready to dive in and see how this works? Let's get started!
Step 1: Are You Eligible for Generative AI in Google Search?
Before you can start getting those fancy AI-powered answers, you need to ensure you're in a region and have an account that supports it. Google is continuously expanding the availability of AI Overviews.
Engage with me! Have you seen any AI Overviews in your Google Search results yet, even by chance? Let me know if you have, or if this is completely new territory for you!
Sub-heading: Understanding Availability
Initially, Google's generative AI features in Search were part of Search Labs, an experimental program. While "AI Overviews and more" has largely replaced the SGE experiment, the availability often follows similar regional and account patterns.
Geographic Availability: Google is gradually rolling out "AI Overviews and more" to more users, in more languages, and across over 120 countries and territories. This includes a broad range of countries in the Americas, Asia, Africa, and more. India and the US were among the earlier regions to get "AI Mode" specifically.
Account Type: For now, Search Labs and its experiments are not available to Google Workspace accounts, including Google Workspace for Education accounts. You'll need a personal Google Account that you manage on your own.
Browser/Device: While you access Google Search through any browser, the "Labs" icon (a small beaker) for enabling experimental features is typically found in Google Chrome.
Step 2: Activating "AI Overviews and More" (Formerly SGE) through Search Labs
Even though "AI Overviews" are becoming a core Google Search feature, accessing the full "AI Overviews and more" experience (which offers additional generative AI features) often still involves opting in via Search Labs.
Sub-heading: The Beaker Icon is Your Gateway
Open Google Chrome (or your preferred browser): Go to
google.com.Sign in to your Personal Google Account: Make sure you are signed in. The AI features are tied to your personal account.
Look for the Labs Icon: In the upper right corner of the Google Search page, next to your profile picture or Gmail/Images links, you should see a small beaker icon. This is the Search Labs icon.
Important Note: If you don't see the beaker icon, it means Search Labs isn't currently available to you in your region or for your account type. You might need to wait for it to roll out further.
Click the Labs Icon: A pop-up will appear, showing available experiments.
Find "AI Overviews and more": Scroll down the list of experiments. You're looking for one titled something like "AI Overviews and more" or "AI Mode."
Toggle it On: Click the toggle switch next to the "AI Overviews and more" experiment to turn it on.
Agree to Terms (if prompted): Google Labs will likely ask you to read and agree to specific Terms and Conditions. Make sure you review them and accept to proceed.
Try AI Mode (if applicable): If you specifically enabled "AI Mode," a new tab might open with the AI Search interface.
Step 3: Using Google Search to Get Generative AI Results
Once "AI Overviews and more" is enabled, you'll start seeing generative AI results for many of your searches.
Sub-heading: How AI Overviews Appear
Automatic Generation: For many eligible queries, an AI-generated snapshot or AI Overview will automatically appear at the top of your search results, before the traditional "10 blue links." This overview aims to provide a quick summary of key information from various sources.
"Generate" Button: For some queries, the AI Overview might not appear automatically but instead, you'll see a "Generate" button. Clicking this button will prompt Google to create an AI summary for your query.
Collapsed State: Sometimes, an AI result might appear in a "collapsed state," requiring you to click "Show more" to view the entire content.
No AI Overview: It's important to remember that not all queries will trigger an AI Overview. Google's systems determine when generative AI can be most helpful. Complex, highly subjective, or very niche queries might not yield an AI overview.
Sub-heading: Interacting with AI Overviews
Source Links: The AI Overviews are designed to be a jumping-off point. You'll see links to the original sources that the AI used to generate the summary. Always explore these links to fact-check important information and delve deeper.
Follow-up Questions: A powerful feature of the generative AI experience is the ability to ask follow-up questions directly within the AI overview. This allows for a more conversational and iterative search experience, letting you refine your query and get more specific answers without starting a new search.
Visual Elements: For certain searches, AI Overviews might include images, videos, or infographics alongside the text summary, making the information more engaging and digestible.
Step 4: Optimizing Your Queries for Better AI Results
While AI Overviews aim to understand natural language, a few tips can help you get the most out of generative AI in Google Search.
Think conversationally: Instead of just keywords, try phrasing your searches as questions or natural language prompts, similar to how you'd ask a person.
Example: Instead of "best laptop for students," try "What are the best laptops for college students for under $1000?"
Be specific: The more detail you provide, the better the AI can understand your intent and generate a relevant summary.
Ask multi-faceted questions: Generative AI excels at synthesizing information from multiple sources. Ask questions that require a comprehensive answer, drawing from various pieces of information.
Example: "Compare the pros and cons of solar panels versus traditional electricity for a residential home in a sunny climate."
Experiment with different phrasings: If you don't get the desired AI overview, try rephrasing your query. The AI is constantly learning, and slight variations can sometimes yield different results.
Step 5: Providing Feedback to Google
Google's generative AI in Search is still evolving. Your feedback is crucial for its improvement.
Thumbs Up/Down Icons: At the bottom of each AI Overview, you'll find Thumbs up and Thumbs down icons.
If you found the overview helpful, click the Thumbs up. You can then provide more detailed feedback.
If the overview was unhelpful, inaccurate, biased, or problematic, click the Thumbs down. You can then select a category that best describes your issue and add more details in a text field.
Be Specific: When providing feedback, be as specific as possible about why the AI Overview was helpful or unhelpful. This data helps Google refine its models.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Generative AI in Google Search
How to get generative AI results if I don't see the Labs icon?
If you don't see the Labs (beaker) icon, it likely means that Search Labs, and thus the "AI Overviews and more" experiment, isn't yet available in your specific region or for your Google account type. Google is expanding its availability, so keep checking back periodically. Ensure you are signed into a personal Google Account, not a Workspace account.
How to know if an AI Overview is accurate?
While Google strives for accuracy, AI Overviews can and will make mistakes. It's crucial to think critically about the responses. Always explore the provided source links and cross-reference information from multiple reputable sources to fact-check important details, especially for critical information like health, finance, or legal advice.
How to disable generative AI results in Google Search?
If you've enabled "AI Overviews and more" via Search Labs, you can disable it by going back to the Labs icon, clicking "Manage," finding the experiment, and toggling it off. If AI Overviews appear without you explicitly enabling them, it's because they are becoming a core Search feature. In such cases, you can select the "Web" filter after performing a search to display only text-based links without AI Overviews.
How to use follow-up questions effectively with AI Overviews?
To use follow-up questions effectively, think about what additional information or clarification you need after reading the initial AI Overview. For example, if the overview summarizes a historical event, you might ask, "What were the immediate consequences of that event?" or "Who were the key figures involved?"
How to get AI Overviews for shopping queries?
Google's generative AI can also assist with shopping queries, providing synthesized information for product comparisons, pros and cons, and helping you find products that fit specific criteria. Phrase your queries to reflect your shopping intent, such as "Compare [Product A] and [Product B]" or "Best noise-canceling headphones for travel under $300."
How to differentiate between AI Overviews and traditional search results?
AI Overviews typically appear in a distinct box at the very top of the search results page, often with a shaded background or clear demarcation, labeled as an "AI Overview" or similar. Traditional search results are the familiar blue links listed below the AI Overview (if one appears).
How to improve my content to be featured in AI Overviews?
For content creators, optimizing for AI Overviews involves focusing on high-quality, informative, and well-structured content that demonstrates expertise, experience, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T). Use clear headings, provide concise answers to common questions, integrate multimedia, and consider using structured data (schema markup) where appropriate to help Google's AI understand your content better.
How to provide detailed feedback on an AI Overview?
After clicking the Thumbs up or Thumbs down icon, a feedback box will often appear. Be specific and constructive. For example, instead of just "bad answer," you could say, "The overview missed X key point" or "The information about Y was inaccurate based on Z source."
How to access Search Labs if I'm using a Google Workspace account?
Currently, Google Search Labs and its experimental features, including "AI Overviews and more," are not available for Google Workspace accounts. You will need to use a personal Google Account to access these features.
How to stay updated on Google's generative AI in Search developments?
Google frequently announces updates and expansions of its generative AI features through its official blog (blog.google/products/search/) and support pages. Following these sources will keep you informed about new features, wider availability, and changes to the user experience.
