Move Over AI Overviews, Google AI Mode is Here

Google is moving quickly with their search advancements over the last year, and I’m sure we all feel it when we hear, yet again, another search landscape announcement… what’re you throwing at us now?! Keeping up today feels like chasing a never-ending rainbow, and I’m positive I’m not alone.

From the Search Generative Experience (SGE) to AI Overviews, Google’s clearly been testing the waters to see what sticks—and now, the next wave has arrived: Google AI Mode.

Google AI Mode was first announced on March 5th, 2025, with a second batch of users entered into the experiment on March 24th, 2025 (me included!). With that, I’ll walk through some early observations below, alongside some examples. But first, let’s dive into understanding what Google AI Mode is exactly.

Think of it like a search experience on steroids… very similar to how you’d search in a tool such as ChatGPT or Perplexity. You’re not just getting a list of links or a snappy AI summary anywhere, you’re stepping into a full-on AI-powered interaction directly within Google search.

It’s context-aware, capable of multi-step reasoning, offers follow-up prompts, and delivers results that blur the link between chatbot and search engine. Think of it as part ChatGPT and part classic Google. But here’s the kicker: as cool as it sounds, it’s also causing some disruption within the SEO industry. If AI is doing the heavy lifting, will users even bother clicking through to your website? Are the results even accurate? Are people trusting incorrect information because it’s easier to get answers now more than ever?

We’ve all been hearing rumblings about zero-click searches, and for good reason. Search Engine Land reported that nearly 60% of Google searches ended without a click in 2024. And when you pair that with the fact that Google now processes more than 5 trillion searches per year and receives 373x more searches than ChatGPT, that’s a LOT of traffic that is getting stuck in the zero-click search bubble.

Zero-click searches are a reality. And if you haven’t started rethinking your SEO strategy, now’s the time. We’re entering an era where classic SEO needs to evolve and work alongside Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO). To be honest, there will likely be another "-EO" somewhere down the line as we continue learning how Google ranks its AI-powered results. This space is moving fast, and adaptation is needed.

While it’s still early days, Google’s AI Mode is already revealing where search is headed, and it’s a noticeable shift from the AI Overviews most users have gotten used to.

Here are a few observations I've noticed so far:

• Stronger local intent: AI Mode isn’t just returning general advice—it’s pulling in contextual, regionally relevant answers. In testing queries around gardening here in Austin, for example, the results accounted for our hot summers and sudden winters, specific to my zip code. That’s a big difference from the results we see in AI Overviews. In the screenshots below, you’ll notice references to “Austin Texas (zip code 78748)” in AI Mode, while AI Overviews makes no mention of Austin at all.

• Experience is completely different: In AI Mode, the AI-generated response takes center stage, pushing all other organic results out of the main scroll, aside from a small panel of featured articles off to the side. This is a major difference from AI Overviews, where the AI-generated content functions more like an enhanced featured snippet that still sits above a full set of traditional organic links.
• Designed for follow-up interaction: AI Overviews tends to lead with a structured breakdown, like identifying shoe types, then moving into brands to consider. For example, in my query for “best shoes to wear walking internationally,” it first explained categories like sneakers or hiking shoes, then mentioned options like Hoka or Teva. AI Mode, on the other hand, jumps straight into specific shoe recommendations and then walks you through comfort, versatility, style, and other considerations. It feels more like a guided conversation—one where the AI is trying to understand you—whereas AI Overviews puts more responsibility on you to guide the search.

• Google is guiding users into AI Mode: At the bottom of many AI Overviews, there’s now a callout encouraging users to “dive deeper in AI Mode.” It’s a not-so-subtle nudge signaling that Google wants users to start shifting how they interact with search, and if all goes well, I suspect AI Mode may soon become the default experience.

These are just early observations, ones I’ll continue to monitor and share as the search landscape keeps shifting (because let’s be real, it’s been one wild roller coaster ride). As much as Google loves to test and tweak its search engine results pages, I’m confident these won’t be the only patterns we notice.

But as you explore Google’s AI Mode, make sure you’re still giving it the human oversight it needs. It’s experimental. It’s not perfect… yet.

Google continues to roll out algorithm updates for a reason (the March 2025 core update just occurred), and lately, there’s been a clear push toward trustworthy, expert-driven content. That’s not a coincidence. It’s a signal.

If AI Mode is the future, and AI Overviews are still very much the present, then we need to start rethinking our SEO strategies to show up within the answer, not just beside it.

Below are some ways to start thinking differently about your search strategy:

1. Double down on local signals: AI mode has shown a stronger lean toward regional context. Whether it’s referencing climate zones, local events, or even zip codes, it’s clear that Google is working harder to personalize answers. That means your content should be explicit about location–use structured data, local terms, and real-world references (not just keyword-stuffing city names into the body or headline copy).

2. Optimize for follow-up logic, not just the first search: Traditional SEO focuses on ranking for individual queries. But in AI Mode, one search often leads to a conversation. That means your content should anticipate follow-up questions and address them in a natural, helpful way. Start thinking about query chains.

   1. 💡 Tip: Use “People Also Ask” and autocomplete suggestions to find those next-step questions users might be asking.

3. Cover both bases - AI Mode and AI Overviews: While AI Mode is still rolling out, AI Overviews aren’t going anywhere. Your content still needs to rank well in LLM-powered overviews. Meaning, clarity, structure, and authority still matter. But the difference now is intent. Google AI Mode is more likely to pull in content with a conversational, local, or decision-making slant, while AI Overviews may still favor definitive breakdowns and “what is” style content.

4. Structure matters: The more scannable, structured, and semantically rich your content is, the easier it is for Google’s AI system to parse and synthesize it. Use bullet points, subheadings, concise explanations, and schema markup. Treat every section like it could be quoted as-is in an AI response.

5. Be the brand behind the answer: In AI Mode especially, users might never reach your site, but your name, product, or recommendation might still show up. That’s where brand and topical relevance become crucial. Your goal is no longer just “click-through”; it’s visibility with the answer itself.

As impressive as Google AI Mode is, it’s still an experiment. The results can be helpful, sometimes even surprisingly spot on, they they’re not infallible. In fact, they can occasionally be way off or completely miss the nuance of a query (watch out for those AI Hallucinations!).

That’s why we can’t just blindly try to optimize for AI. We need to think about how we work with it. The future of search (and content strategy) is likely going to be a collaboration between human expertise and AI efficiency.

Use AI insights to guide strategy. Use data to inform decisions. But never lose the human layer of quality, clarity, and intent. That’s the part the algorithm can’t replace, and it’s the part that builds trust with your audience long after Google reshuffles the SERP again.

Talk to a digital marketing agency that gets it.

Gets the search landscape. Gets where it’s headed. We can help you redefine your SEO strategy–not just to rank in traditional search (while it’s still traditional search), but to evolve alongside the future of SEO in this AI-driven time we’re in. Contact us today if you’re ready for a change!