Google adds AI chatbot to search results: here’s how it will affect you

Google Search now shows Gemini AI summaries above links. Here's what changes for users and what it means for content publishers.

May 22, 2025 - 01:00

Google adds AI chatbot to search results: here’s how it will affect you

Google is making a major update to how its Search engine works. It’s adding a new feature called AI Overviews, which uses its Gemini AI chatbot to give users quick answers to their questions—right at the top of the results page.

This means that when you search for something on Google, you may now see an AI-generated summary before you even scroll to the links. The change was announced at the company’s developer event, Google I/O 2025, and has already started rolling out in the United States.

What is AI Overviews?

AI Overviews is a feature that gives you a quick summary when you ask complex or detailed questions. Instead of just showing a list of links, Google’s AI reads through information and gives you a short answer pulled from multiple sources.

You can also click on suggested follow-up questions or ask for more details in a chat-like format.

For example, if you search: “What’s the best way to train for a marathon if I only have 8 weeks?”—the AI Overview will appear with a short, helpful answer and tips, even before you get to any websites.

Will regular search results still be there?

Yes. Google says it’s not removing the normal list of websites. You’ll still see links, ads, and news stories like before. The AI summary just appears at the top to help you get a faster idea of what you’re looking for.

This means you can still dig deeper if you want to read more from trusted sources or find specific articles.

What’s the reason behind the change?

Google says the goal is to make searching more helpful and conversational. People are now asking longer, more complex questions—and clicking through ten links to find the answer can take time.

With AI Overviews, the idea is to give you the main points instantly. It’s also a way for Google to stay ahead of newer search tools like Perplexity AI and Microsoft’s AI-powered Bing, which already offer chatbot-style answers.

Concerns from website owners

Some publishers and content creators are worried that this change might reduce traffic to their sites. If people get all the answers they need from the AI summary, they may not click on the links below.

The AI Overviews will include links to sources so users can explore more, and the company says it’s working on ways to share credit fairly with content creators.

Where and when is it available?

The AI Overviews feature started rolling out in the U.S. this week and will be available in more countries later this year. Google says it expects to reach over 1 billion users by the end of 2025.

It will also come to Chrome and the Google app soon, with a new “ask a follow-up” option built into the interface.