People are searching more because of AI Overviews: Head of Google Search

Google’s new AI-powered feature, AI Overviews, is fundamentally changing the way people interact with the search engine. Instead of replacing traditional search, this generative AI tool is encouraging users to search more, according to Liz Reid, the recently appointed Head of Google Search.
During a recent press briefing following the Google I/O 2025 event, Reid clarified that fears about AI reducing the need for search are misplaced. In fact, she says that early data suggests AI Overviews are increasing engagement, making people more curious and prompting deeper research habits.
What Are AI Overviews?
Unveiled officially at Google I/O 2024, AI Overviews is a generative AI feature that provides users with a summarized answer at the top of the search results page. Instead of scanning through multiple links, users see a synthesized paragraph generated by AI, often combining data from multiple sources, followed by source links.
Here’s what it does:
- Offers a concise summary of complex topics.
- Pulls together perspectives or information across several sites.
- Still links to sources, encouraging exploration.
This feature is now being rolled out to all users in the United States and several other countries, and is expected to become a global default by the end of 2025.
AI Encourages Curiosity, Not Laziness
One of the biggest criticisms of AI in search has been that it might discourage users from thinking critically or digging deeper. Reid counters this, explaining:
“When people get a helpful overview, it actually makes them more curious. They dive deeper. They click more links.”
Reid emphasized that users don’t stop with the summary—they continue searching for clarification, alternative perspectives, or supporting evidence. This directly counters concerns that AI would reduce traffic to publishers or cause people to rely solely on one summary.
Publishers and Content Creators: A Mixed Reaction
While Reid’s statement brings optimism, many publishers remain cautious. AI Overviews potentially take the spotlight away from individual sites and present a challenge: if users can get the gist of an article from Google’s summary, will they still click the link?
However, Google insists that traffic is not dropping. According to internal testing:
- Users are spending more time on Google.
- More searches are performed in a single session.
- Click-throughs from AI Overview sources are steady or increasing.
Google is also introducing “source badges”, which make it clear where the information in an AI Overview is coming from. This could help drive traffic to high-quality, original content.
SEO in the Age of AI Search
For content creators and SEO professionals, the arrival of AI Overviews is both a challenge and an opportunity.
What’s changing:
- Relevance over keywords: Content must answer specific user questions clearly and directly.
- E-A-T principles (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) are more crucial than ever.
- Structured data, schema markup, and good web hygiene are now even more important to ensure visibility in summaries.
Content that is informative, well-written, and genuinely useful will likely be featured in AI Overviews. Thin or keyword-stuffed pages will get buried.
Will People Trust AI Summaries?
Trust is a critical factor. Reid acknowledged that transparency and source attribution are essential for AI Overviews to work long-term.
In response to concerns about misinformation:
- Google says AI Overviews avoid speculation and stick to facts.
- Sensitive queries (e.g., health or finance) are given extra scrutiny.
- AI will never fabricate answers where no reliable information exists.
Google also offers a feedback button on every AI Overview, allowing users to report inaccuracies or issues—a key step toward responsible AI integration.
The Bigger Picture: The Future of Search
Google isn’t the only player in this space. Competitors like Microsoft’s Copilot in Bing and Perplexity AI are also introducing generative AI into the search landscape. However, Google remains dominant, and how it handles AI integration could reshape the entire digital ecosystem.
The company believes AI is not a disruption to search—it’s an evolution. It aims to provide faster, better answers without reducing the role of human content creators.
Final Thoughts: More Searches, More Opportunity?
If Google’s data holds true, AI Overviews may actually be boosting search engagement. For users, it means more convenience and better understanding. For publishers and SEO professionals, it means adapting to a new format—one where clarity, value, and authority matter more than ever.
As Reid puts it:
“We’re seeing that people are more curious, not less. AI is helping them ask better questions—and search more, not less.”
The search game has changed, but it’s far from over.