Tracking AI Mode in Google Search Console: What You Need to Know

As Google continues its AI transformation, digital marketers and SEOs are watching closely for any signs of how AI Mode impacts search traffic and rankings. One of the most pressing questions on everyone’s mind: How will we track AI Mode traffic in Google Search Console?

The short answer: You won’t be able to break it out, at least not yet.

What Is Google’s AI Mode?

In May 2024, Google began rolling out AI Mode (including AI Overviews and deeper search integrations) to U.S. users by default. It represents a significant shift in how search queries are processed and how results are delivered, often blending classic search listings with conversational, AI-generated answers.

This shift is designed to speed up search experiences and reduce the need to click on multiple links. While convenient for users, it introduces complexity for marketers trying to understand performance metrics, such as impressions, clicks, and CTR.

Google Search Console: What’s Changing?

Google has confirmed that data from AI Mode and AI Overviews is being collected, and support for viewing this performance data in the Search Console is coming. However, AI Mode traffic will not be separated or broken out as a unique source or feature, at least not in the current iteration.

That means even when the data goes live:

• You won’t be able to isolate AI Overviews from other search surfaces.
• Clicks coming from AI-generated answers will be grouped with standard Search results.
• Impressions may increase, but attribution will remain general.

Why Can’t We Break Out AI Mode Data?

There are a few reasons Google is keeping AI Mode performance blended with traditional search metrics:

1. User Experience Consistency: From a user’s perspective, the search experience is unified. Whether interacting with AI content or traditional snippets, users remain within the broader Google Search interface.
2. Interface Limitations: Google Search Console is designed to reflect how content performs across various surfaces, including Web Search, Discover, News, and others. However, AI Overviews currently don’t exist as a separate product surface. They’re part of the core experience.
3. Avoiding Confusion (for now: With AI Mode still evolving and potentially confusing to interpret in analytics, Google may prioritize simplicity in early reporting.)

What to Watch for in Your Performance Reports

Once AI Mode data starts appearing in Search Console, expect the following:

• Traffic Volatility: If your site is cited or referenced by AI Overviews, you may see increases in impressions or indirect clicks, even if users aren’t directly clicking on your blue link.
• Average Position Shifts: Depending on how your content is integrated into AI responses, your rankings fluctuate even when your URL is performing well contextually.
• CTR Changes: AI Overviews may provide complete answers upfront, reducing click-throughs even if impressions rise.

Since this data cannot be filtered or broken out, SEOs will need to infer the impact of AI by comparing before-and-after trends or analyzing page-level anomalies.

How to Prepare for AI Mode in Your SEO Strategy

Even if the data isn’t segmented yet, you can still adapt your strategy to benefit from AI-enhanced Search by focusing on:

1. Content Clarity and Authority

AI Overviews pull from high-authority, well-structured content. Ensure your pages provide the following:

• Clear answers to user queries
• Structured headers and schema markup
• Credible sources and citations

2. Topical Depth

Long-form, in-depth content that thoroughly explores a topic is more likely to be cited in AI responses than thin or surface-level pages.

3. E-E-A-T Optimization

AI summaries prefer content that shows Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Review your author bios, content quality, and backlink profile accordingly.

4. Performance Benchmarking

Since AI Mode impressions are blended, monitor shifts in:

• Branded vs. non-branded keyword traffic
• Individual page performance
• Device type trends (since AI Mode is more prominent on mobile)

Create benchmarks now so you can detect changes as AI integration deepens.

Will Google Eventually Outperform AI?

Possibly, but there’s no timeline. Google has stated that Search Console support is on the way. Still, like other Search features (e.g., Discover or Perspectives), AI Overviews may remain a blended metric for the foreseeable future.

That said, if AI Mode evolves to the point of fundamentally changing how users interact with content, Google may be compelled to provide deeper visibility or introduce a new filter or reporting tool. SEOs can hope but shouldn’t wait.

Final Thoughts

The launch of AI Mode marks a new era in Search, and tracking its impact will be a significant challenge. While Google Search Console will eventually include performance data for AI Mode, don’t expect granular breakdowns.

For now, treat AI Mode like a rising tide: it’s lifting all boats, but you won’t know exactly where the current is strongest. Focus on quality, clarity, and credibility, the principles that will help your content shine in every version of Search, whether AI-powered or not.