Google AI Overviews: 13.7% Activation, 30% Unique Sources in 55K Query Study

A comprehensive study measuring Google AI Overviews (AIOs) indicates that this generative AI function activates for 13.7% of all queries, rising to 64.7% for questions. Conducted over a 40-day period from March 13 to April 21, 2026, the analysis covered 55,393 trending queries across 19 different categories. Notable findings reveal that activation rates are significantly lower for politically sensitive subjects. Additionally, domains referenced by AIOs tend to be more credible than those appearing on the first page, though nearly 30% of these cited sources are absent from those results, suggesting a unique source selection process distinct from Google's usual ranking. The research underscores AIOs' significant influence on the information users receive, impacting over 2 billion individuals who might be unaware that the answers are generated by AI.