Google has begun rolling out a redesigned link experience inside AI Overviews and AI Mode, adding hover-based link previews on desktop and clearer link icons across devices in an effort to help users reach original sources more easily.
Google is updating how links appear inside AI-generated answers in Search. The changes were announced by Robby Stein, Vice President of Product for Search, in a post shared on X.
Here is the screenshot he shared:
On desktop, users will now see groups of links appear in a pop-up when they hover over linked text inside an AI Overview or AI Mode response.
Each pop-up shows the site name, favicon, and a short description, allowing users to quickly understand the source before clicking.
At the same time, Google is rolling out clearer and more noticeable link icons across both desktop and mobile results.
Why Google Is Reworking Links Inside AI Answers
Since AI Overviews began appearing more widely in search results, publishers and marketers have closely watched how they affect traffic.
Studies over the past year suggest that AI summaries often satisfy user curiosity without encouraging clicks to external sites.
Data from Pew shows that users clicked a link within an AI summary in about 1 percent of visits where an AI Overview was present.
Separate analysis from GrowthSRC Media, referenced in industry reporting, found that top organic click-through rates dropped from 28% to 19% after AI Overviews expanded.
That decline raised concerns that AI responses were drawing attention away from original content.
Google has acknowledged these concerns and has been adjusting the interface step by step rather than making a single sweeping change.
How The New Link Design Is Meant To Help Users
According to Stein, Google’s testing indicates that the new link layout is more engaging and makes it easier to reach content from across the web.
The hover-based preview is designed to give users context at the moment they are deciding whether to click, rather than forcing them to guess where a link leads.
This update builds on earlier efforts. Last August, Google introduced embedded link carousels on desktop and said its guiding goal was to show more links directly within AI responses.
The latest redesign applies that thinking more fully to AI Overviews and introduces a new interaction pattern focused on clarity and confidence.
What This Means For Publishers And Site Owners
The update signals that Google sees link presentation inside AI-generated answers as an ongoing issue that still needs refinement.
As AI Overviews become a more common part of search results, Google appears to be working toward a balance between providing fast, helpful summaries and keeping original sources visible and accessible.
For publishers, the changes highlight how AI SEO is increasingly shaped by how content is surfaced inside AI answers, not just by where a page ranks in traditional results.
With site names, favicons, and short descriptions becoming more prominent, branding and clarity matter more at the point of discovery.
Clear page titles, recognizable site identity, and accurate descriptions can influence whether a user chooses to click when links appear in hover previews rather than as standard blue links.
While it is still too early to know if these updates will reverse recent declines in click-through rates, they suggest that Google is actively responding to concerns about traffic flow to publisher sites.
Actionable Steps To Take Now
Site owners should check how their pages appear when surfaced as sources in AI Overviews, paying attention to how their names and descriptions are displayed.
Consistent branding and accurate metadata can help users recognize and trust a source at a glance.
Tracking traffic from AI-driven results separately, where possible, may also help teams spot early shifts in engagement as the redesign reaches more users.
Key Takeaways
- Google is adding hover-based link previews to AI Overviews on desktop
- Link icons inside AI responses are becoming easier to notice on all devices.
- The update follows evidence of reduced organic click-through rates.
- Google says early testing shows higher user engagement.
- Link presentation inside AI answers is likely to keep evolving.
Zulekha
AuthorZulekha is an emerging leader in the content marketing industry from India. She began her career in 2019 as a freelancer and, with over five years of experience, has made a significant impact in content writing. Recognized for her innovative approaches, deep knowledge of SEO, and exceptional storytelling skills, she continues to set new standards in the field. Her keen interest in news and current events, which started during an internship with The New Indian Express, further enriches her content. As an author and continuous learner, she has transformed numerous websites and digital marketing companies with customized content writing and marketing strategies.
