Quick answer: Google AI Overviews now appear on more than 80% of Google searches, according to data from Semrush, SE Ranking and seoClarity reported on October 26, 2026. That is up from roughly 50% about a year earlier and around 15% the year before that. SE Ranking alone found AI Overviews on 82.5% of US brand searches.
What happened
Search Engine Roundtable’s Barry Schwartz pulled together the latest numbers from three major SEO data providers. Each tracks AI Overview presence differently, but they point in the same direction: AI Overviews are now the default on most Google results pages.
- Semrush: Its Sensor tool tracks AI Overview presence live, and a new Semrush study found AI Overviews nearly doubled across five commercial search modifiers, such as “best,” “buy” and “review.”
- SE Ranking: AI Overviews appeared on 82.5% of US branded searches.
- seoClarity: About a month earlier, Mark Traphagen reported AI Overviews on more than 62% of queries, ranging from 55% to 84% depending on the industry.
Why it matters
For most of their history, AI Overviews were concentrated on informational, question-style queries. That is no longer the case. They now show for brand names, commercial comparisons and shopping-intent queries, the searches that drive revenue. Schwartz described it as Google “really going all in on AI Overviews,” aiming to have an answer for every query.
The practical effect is that classic ranking position tells you less about visibility than it used to. A number-one organic result can sit below an AI Overview that answers the question, cites competitors or summarizes your brand using third-party sources.
Key facts
- Reported: October 26, 2026
- Current coverage: Over 80% of Google searches
- A year earlier: About 50%
- Branded searches (SE Ranking): 82.5% in the US
- By industry (seoClarity): 55% to 84%
What to do now
- Track AI Overview presence and citations for your top keywords, not just organic rank.
- Check what AI Overviews say about your brand and products, and fix outdated information at the source.
- Structure key pages with clear, direct answers and supporting evidence that is easy to cite.
- Measure click-through rate trends in Search Console for queries where AI Overviews now appear.
FAQ
Do AI Overviews appear on every search?
Not every one, but on more than 80% according to current third-party data. Google’s own name and some news queries are common exceptions.
Do AI Overviews reduce clicks?
Multiple studies have found lower organic click-through rates when an AI Overview is present, though being cited inside the overview can offset part of that loss.
