Google has introduced a new feature allowing publishers to opt out of having their websites utilized for generative AI Search features. This change, which includes an opt-out toggle in the Search Console, enables site owners to decide whether their content appears in AI Overviews and AI Mode, independent of standard Search results.
Websites that choose to opt out will not generate traffic or impressions from these AI tools but will still be visible in regular Search results and the Discover feed. This opt-out does not affect a site's ranking in conventional Search, as confirmed by Google.
Furthermore, Google is rolling out new metrics for publishers in Search Console, which will provide insights on AI-related impressions, the specific pages featured in AI results, and geographic data. The rollout of these features is currently limited to a select group of website owners in the UK for testing purposes, with plans for a broader global release to follow.
Notably, Google reported that AI Overviews has surpassed 2.5 billion monthly active users, while AI Mode has over 1 billion users monthly. The company is also increasing the number of links included in AI-generated results.