Google AI Overviews: Why you should stay in
Google now gives every website a switch to opt out of AI Overviews. The control went live for all sites on August 31, 2026 and lives in Search Console under Settings.
Turning the switch on removes your site from AI Overviews, AI Mode, and AI Overviews in Discover. The AI model stops using your pages to build answers.
Most businesses should leave this setting off. Here’s why.
The Rules of the Switch
- Opting out cuts off traffic and impressions from AI features.
- Your regular search rankings stay the same.
- Google can still use your data to train AI; you need a separate setting for that.
- It’s all-or-nothing—you can’t hide individual pages, only the entire site.
Google built the switch to satisfy regulators, not because users demanded it.
For news publishers, opting out makes sense. An AI summary could steal readers and ad revenue.
For most other businesses, the page isn’t the product. A law firm, a clinic, or a B2B company exists to get hired or booked. When an AI answer recommends your firm to a buyer, that’s a win—exactly what your content aims for.
If you opt out, you lose that visibility and the ability to track it. The new AI reports in Search Console will show zero data for your site.
Don’t flip the switch by mistake. Check Search Console today and make sure the setting is off.
If your website exists to find customers, being part of the answer is your job.
Source: https://dev.to/reidify/google-now-lets-any-site-leave-ai-overviews-most-businesses-should-not-261b