Google's AI Mode: How It's Shaking Up Search Console

Google has recently made a significant change to how it tracks data in Search Console. They've started including information from AI Mode, a feature that enhances search results with interactive, AI-powered responses. This shift means that clicks, impressions, and positions from AI Mode are now part of the overall data in Search Console. AI Mode isn't just a simple addition to search results. It breaks down user queries into subtopics and searches for each one simultaneously. This allows users to dive deeper into their search topics. When a user clicks on a link within AI Mode, it counts as a regular click. Impressions and positions are also tracked similarly to standard search results. However, there's a catch. Google hasn't made it easy to separate AI Mode data from the rest. This means that when you look at your search performance, you won't be able to see how much of it comes from AI Mode specifically. This could make it tricky to understand your search performance fully. Google has updated two key documents to reflect this change. They've added a new section in the Search Console impressions/clicks help document and made adjustments to the AI features document. These updates explain how AI Mode data is now included in the overall totals. Some experts have weighed in on this change. Glenn Gabe, for instance, noted that each listing in AI Mode will have its own position, but links within carousels and image packs will be grouped together. He also pointed out that follow-up questions in AI Mode will be treated as new queries, starting the position count over from one. This change is part of a broader trend in search technology. As AI becomes more integrated into search engines, it's changing how we interact with information online. It's also changing how we track and understand that interaction. The impact of this change is still unclear. It could make it harder for website owners to understand their search performance. On the other hand, it could also provide more insights into how users are interacting with AI-powered search results.