In a move long awaited by the SEO community, Google has added a dedicated AI Mode traffic report to Google Search Console. This major update, rolled out in June 2025, offers site owners new visibility into how their content performs in AI Overviews, part of Google’s expanding Search Generative Experience (SGE).

As AI-driven results continue to disrupt traditional SEO patterns, this addition is more than just a new data point—it’s a signal that AI visibility is now a core performance metric for search. Let’s explore what this update includes, its implications for SEO, and how marketers can utilize it to refine their strategies.

What Is “AI Mode” in Search Console?

The “AI Mode” label refers to traffic that originates from AI-generated answers, summaries, or links that surfaced within Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE). These are the blocks of AI-generated content that now appear at the top of many Google search results, often directly answering user questions.

Previously, SEOs could only guess whether their content was featured in AI summaries based on indirect signals, such as traffic drops or brand mentions. Now, Google is providing transparent data on:

• Impressions within AI Overviews
• Clicks (when users expand or click on source links)
• CTR (Click-Through Rate) for AI appearances
• Page-level and query-level breakdowns for AI engagement

This data appears as a new filter under the “Performance” report in the Search Console, alongside “Web,” “Video,” and “Image.”

Why This Update Matters

For years, SEOs have measured performance using metrics tied to traditional 10-blue-link results. But SGE and AI Overviews now dominate many high-intent queries—often without sending users to websites.

Here’s why this new data is so significant:

1. Confirms Inclusion in AI Overviews

Until now, you had no clear way to verify if Google’s AI was surfacing your content. This update confirms whether your site is being referenced or cited in AI answers.

2. Provides a New Visibility Channel

AI Overviews are a new kind of SERP real estate. This report shows how much exposure you’re getting from it—even if users don’t click on it.

3. Enables CTR Benchmarking

With click data included, SEOs can now assess the level of engagement their content elicits within AI contexts—and optimize titles, meta descriptions, and content formats accordingly.

4. Shifts the SEO Mindset

SEO in 2025 is not just about clicks—it’s about influence. Appearing in an AI summary that never leads to a session still builds authority, trust, and brand exposure.

What the AI Mode Report Looks Like

The new AI Mode filter is available within the Search Console Performance tab.

You can filter by:

• Search Type → AI Overview
• Date Range → Last 7 to 16 months
• Page or Query

Metrics available:

• Impressions: Number of times your content appeared in an AI Overview
• Clicks: Number of times users clicked your link from within the AI summary
• CTR: Percentage of impressions that led to a click
• Position: If applicable, your placement within the list of citations

Google has also confirmed that AI Mode traffic is separated from standard “Web” search data to prevent double counting.

Early Observations from SEO Analysts

Since the rollout, early adopters and SEO tool providers have made the following observations:

• Impressions are often higher than clicks, as users may read summaries without visiting any pages.
• FAQs, how-to content, and expert articles are the most likely to appear in AI Overviews.
• Content with clear structure, schema markup, and authoritativeness tends to be selected more often.
• CTR is lower than traditional search, but brand recall appears to be higher (tracked via branded search queries).

These findings suggest that SEOs need to rethink success not just in terms of sessions but also in terms of AI-based brand visibility.

How to Optimize for AI Overview Inclusion

Now that performance data is visible, the next step is to optimize content so that it appears more frequently in AI Overviews. Here’s how:

1. Answer Questions Clearly

Content that answers a query in the first 1–2 sentences increases your chances of being cited.

2. Use Structured Data

Implementing schema (FAQ, How-To, Article) helps Google better understand and extract your content for AI summaries.

3. Build Topical Authority

Google’s AI prefers to cite sources that consistently cover a niche with depth. Build content clusters around related queries.

4. Add Author and Entity Information

Utilize schema and on-page bios to connect your content with recognized experts or entities. This boosts credibility in Google’s language models.

5. Write with AI in Mind

Use natural language, short paragraphs, and clear formatting—all of which improve parsing for AI summarization.

Measuring Impact: What to Watch Next

Now that you can track AI-driven impressions and clicks, here are some key KPIs to monitor going forward:

• AI Overview CTR: If your CTR is low, experiment with more compelling meta tags.
• Top Performing Queries in AI Mode: Identify which questions or topics drive AI visibility.
• Page-Level Breakdown: Identify which formats (blog posts, service pages, product guides) yield the best results.
• Branded Search Trends: AI visibility often boosts brand curiosity, so be on the lookout for an increase in branded queries.
• Engagement Metrics Post-Click: Utilize GA4 to track what users do after clicking on AI-generated answers. Do they bounce? Do they convert?

Final Thoughts

The addition of AI Mode traffic data to the Search Console marks a significant shift in how SEOs measure and understand performance. It signals Google’s recognition that the AI layer of search is not supplemental—it’s foundational to how content is discovered and interacted with.

This is your opportunity to:

• Refine your AI visibility strategy.
• Benchmark performance with real metrics
• Shift from traffic-first SEO to influence-first SEO

As generative search continues to evolve, the sites that understand and adapt early will not only dominate the SERPs but also shape the future of discovery itself.