GoKawiilGoogle boosts visibility of inline links in AI Overviews and AI Mode
Google announced updates to its AI search features that place inline links higher and more frequently in responses, add link carousels for timely articles, and make end-of-query links more visually prominent with thumbnails. It's also testing clickable publisher profile links in AI Mode and says over 400 publishers now participate in its News AI licensing pilot, with Axios, CNN, and the Financial Times newly joining.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The changes suggest Google is responding to persistent complaints from publishers that AI-generated answers siphon off traffic by answering queries directly rather than directing users to source sites. Expanding the News AI pilot and link visibility could be read as an attempt to ease tensions with media partners who rely on referral traffic and licensing revenue, though whether these tweaks meaningfully restore lost clicks remains unproven.
- Google is repositioning inline links to appear higher and more often in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
- New features include link carousels for timely news and clickable publisher search profiles.
- Over 400 publishers, including Axios, CNN, and Financial Times, are now part of Google's News AI pilot program.
Source: theverge.com — Jay Peters, 2026-10-15
Published there as: “Google is making inline links more prominent in AI responses”
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