GENERATIVE SEARCH
Many More Searchers Think AI Overviews Make Google Results Better than Worse
Only 40% of all respondents said that they had received AI-generated summaries/overviews on search engines like Google or Bing, with 29% unsure if they had or not. Given the relative similarity in appearance of AI overviews to traditional featured snippets from websites, it’s likely many searchers just aren’t aware when they’re getting a generative AI result.
Have you ever received AI-generated overviews/summaries on a search engine like Google or Bing?
Asked how AI-generated overviews/summaries were impacting their Google search results, 48% of those who had received these summaries say their integration has made Google’s search results better, compared to just 15% who say worse. This represents a contrast to the perceptions of many in the search marketing industry who have found examples of inaccurate and sometimes dangerous generative AI answers.
Which of the following best describes your opinion of Google's integration of AI-generated overviews/summaries into its search results? (Among respondents who have received AI-generated overviews/summaries on a search engine like Google or Bing)
Among those who do say that AI overviews have made their Google search results worse, 47% say they’re worse because the information is sometimes inaccurate, and 43% say they just don’t trust AI. For Gen Z and millennial respondents who do not favor Google’s use of AI overviews, 58% cited inaccurate results, compared to just 38% among Gen X and older respondents. The older generations were more likely to say they simply don’t trust AI-generated information.
What about AI-generated overviews/summaries makes your Google search results worse? Select all that apply. (Among respondents who say Google's integration of AI-generated overviews/summaries into its search results has made their search results worse)
When asked whether AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity had led them to use traditional search engines less, 29% of respondents said yes. However, among respondents who say they use AI-powered platforms monthly or more, 45% said they are using traditional search engines less. For daily AI platform users, that rate jumps to 62%.
Have AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity led you to use traditional search engines like Google and Bing less? (Share who responded 'yes')
While the promise of answer engines is that users don't have to leave the search engines they’re querying to get the information they need, 44% of respondents still prefer to click on a link to a website when they search. Fully 28% prefer for search engines to pull answers featured on search results from a single source/website, identical to the share who prefer when search engines generate answers using AI.
Though just 32% of Gen Z and millennials prefer to click a link on a search results page to get an answer, that rate was 50% among Gen X and older respondents. For the younger generations, AI-generated results were the most popular way of presenting an answer to a search query.
