Google has introduced new controls and reporting tools in Search Console that will allow website owners to manage whether their content appears in AI Overviews, AI Mode and other generative AI search features. The company is also adding new insights to help publishers track the performance of their content in AI-powered search experiences.
The new AI controls and insights are designed to give website publishers and content creators greater control over the use and visibility of their content. According to Google, the initiative aims to provide publishers with more transparency regarding how their content is used across AI-powered search features.
Under the update, website owners will receive a dedicated control in Search Console that enables them to exclude their webpages from Google’s generative AI features. If a publisher activates this option, content from the website will not be included in AI Overviews, AI Mode or AI-generated summaries displayed in Discovery.
Google said the setting applies only to its AI-based search features and will not directly affect a website’s traditional search rankings or performance in organic search results. Websites will continue to appear in standard Google Search results as before.
The company is also introducing new insights in Search Console to help website operators understand how their content is being used in AI-powered search experiences. Publishers will be able to see which pages are appearing in AI Overviews or AI Mode and how many impressions they are receiving.
In addition, Google will provide information on the countries where a website’s content is being displayed in AI-generated responses. The company said more metrics will be added to these reports in the future to provide publishers with more detailed data.
Google also stated that websites opting out of AI Overviews and AI Mode will not receive traffic or impressions generated through those features. However, their visibility in standard search results will remain unaffected. The company reiterated that the AI control setting will not be used as a ranking signal.
The new controls and insights are currently being rolled out to selected website owners in the United Kingdom. Google plans to expand availability globally in the future based on initial testing and feedback.
