Search Console Adds AI Performance Reports

Key points

• 1

  What the new reports show: The new Search Generative AI performance reports track specific visibility metrics in Google's AI features. They show how often your site URLs appear in AI Overviews and AI Mode on Search, as well as in Discover. This includes detailed breakdowns by country, device type, and time periods (hourly to monthly). For example, if your e-commerce site appears in AI Overviews for mobile users in the US, the report will show that exact traffic pattern. This helps you see where your content is being used by AI systems before you even know it's happening.

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  How to access the reports: These reports are currently available only to a select group of website owners for testing. To use them, go to Search Console, click the 'Reports' tab, and look for the new 'Generative AI Performance' section. The reports will show impressions (how many times your site appears in AI features), pages (which specific URLs are shown), and country/device breakdowns. Since they're rolling out gradually, you'll need to check your Search Console account to see if you're in the test group. If you're not yet in the test group, you can submit feedback via the 'Submit feedback' link in Search Console to get added to the rollout.

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  Why this matters for your site: This update is crucial because Google's AI features are increasingly influencing how users find content. By tracking your visibility in AI Overviews and AI Mode, you can proactively adjust your content strategy. For instance, if your site shows up in AI Overviews for a high-traffic niche like tech or travel, you might want to optimize those pages for concise, factual answers. The reports also help you identify which devices or countries are most active in AI features—critical for mobile-first or regional strategies. Without this data, you'd have no way to know if your content is being used by AI systems, which could mean missing out on visibility in a growing search channel.

What changed