Google Search Console to Test New AI Overviews Opt-Out Feature

Google announced on June 3 (local time) that it will begin testing a new toggle within Search Console, designed to allow website owners to decide whether or not to display their web pages in AI search features such as "AI Overviews," "AI Mode," and "AI Overviews in Discover."

Google explained this initiative as "responding to feedback from publishers (website owners) as user preferences change." The company stated that it aims to ensure website owners have access to appropriate tools by collaborating with regulatory authorities such as the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

This new toggle feature in Search Console will allow website owners to decide for themselves whether to display their content in AI search features. Choosing to opt out will prevent their content from being used as the basis for AI features and answer generation, thereby securing negotiation power for publishers, such as news organizations, to enter into more favorable content contracts with Google. On the other hand, websites that opt out will not receive any traffic or impressions from Google's generative AI features. However, they will continue to be displayed in regular Google search results and the Discover feed.

In addition to the toggle feature, a new insight called "Generative AI Performance Report" has been added to Search Console. Website owners will be able to obtain metrics and detailed information, such as which pages are displayed in AI responses and in which countries. "We are working to understand with website owners what insights are most helpful for strategy development, and we plan to introduce additional metrics in the future," Google explained.

The CMA also announced on the same day that it has imposed new requirements on Google to give website owners control over how their content is used and strong negotiation power. In January, the CMA announced it would compel Google to introduce opt-out measures "to provide fairer deals for content publishers, especially news organizations."

This feature is planned to be initially introduced as a test for a small number of website owners in the UK, and after verification, it will be rolled out worldwide.