Google’s AI search results will make links more obvious

Feb 18, 2026 05:38 AM - 4 months ago 128745

Emma Roth

is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, user tech, crypto, societal media, and overmuch more. Previously, she was a writer and editor astatine MUO.

Google says it will now show links much prominently wrong its AI-powered features successful Search. Robby Stein, the vice president of Google Search, announced connected Tuesday that a database of links will now look wrong a pop-up erstwhile you hover complete the sources successful AI Overviews and AI Mode connected desktop, alongside a explanation of each linked article and accompanying images.

Stein adds that Google will besides show these “more descriptive and salient nexus icons” successful its AI responses connected desktop and mobile. “Our testing shows this caller UI is much engaging, making it easier to get to awesome contented crossed the web,” Stein writes.

Image: Google

While AI Overviews look arsenic an AI-generated summary astatine the apical of Search, AI Mode offers a chatbot-style search acquisition that lets you look for accusation without having to navigate to the original online sources. Google only continues to grow connected these features, amid concerns that its AI hunt results are tanking postulation to news publishers and different websites. The institution has defended its changes to Search, but admitted the unfastened web is successful “rapid decline.”

Last year, the European Commission besides began investigating the company’s AI hunt features, including whether Google violated title rules by utilizing contented from integer publishers successful its AI responses without “appropriate compensation.” Google has since said that it’s “exploring” allowing publishers to opt retired of appearing successful its AI hunt features, and besides started linking to much sources successful AI Mode.

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