At its I/O developer conference last week, Google announced the global expansion of AI Overviews and introduced a new feature called AI Mode. These features are part of a much broader shift towards AI-powered search journeys, and they’re set to change how people discover information online and how businesses are found.

At Arcadian Digital, we work with businesses daily to help them grow through search. That means staying on top of changes like these and helping our clients respond with clear and effective strategies. So what does all this mean in plain terms? And what should businesses be doing about it?

This is not just another algorithm update. It represents a structural change to how Google delivers results, and it will affect how businesses appear in both organic search and paid campaigns.

What’s Changing in Google Search?

AI Overviews are already live

AI Overviews aren’t new but are now being rolled out on a larger scale. This feature provides an AI-generated summary at the top of the search results page for specific queries, drawing from multiple sources to deliver a quick, helpful response.

AI Overviews have been available to users in Australia since October 2024, when Google expanded the feature globally. You don’t need to turn anything on. If someone searches for a supported query, the summary just appears.

While AI Overviews can still include website links, they frequently answer a user’s question directly. This means fewer people may need to click through to individual websites to find the information they’re looking for.

AI Mode is on the horizon

Unlike AI Overviews, AI Mode is a new feature currently rolling out in the United States. It introduces a more interactive, chat-based search experience, allowing users to ask layered or complex questions and receive dynamic, AI-generated responses.

AI Mode behaves less like a search engine and more like someone you can have a chat with, and that’s the real shift. Users can ask follow-up questions, refine their search on the spot, and even complete tasks like booking a restaurant, browsing products visually, or comparing multiple options in a single thread. Google is positioning it as a tool for more in-depth research and decision-making, particularly for users seeking help with complex or open-ended queries.

Although it’s not yet available in Australia, it offers a clear perspective on the future direction of Search. Google isn’t just handing over answers anymore; it’s creating an experience that feels more like a digital concierge.

Source: Google Blog

What This Means for Your Business

AI-driven search is already reshaping how users engage with content, ads, and brands on Google. While some businesses may be worried about diminished visibility, there are clear opportunities for those who adapt their approach early. This is where we observe the most immediate impact for our clients.

SEO: Visibility is being redefined

AI Overviews are changing how search results appear and how users engage with them. In many cases, users stop at the AI summary without ever seeing the rest of the page. This means visibility is not solely about where your business ranks but also about whether your content is seen and cited in the AI-generated summary.

We’re responding by reviewing how our clients’ content is structured and presented. The focus is on being helpful, clear, and directly aligned with users’ searches. Lists, FAQs, and clearly labelled sections help AI systems in extracting key points. We’re also reviewing which pages support long-tail, question-based queries to enhance the chances of being cited.

Paid Search: Ads are entering the AI layer

Google has begun testing ads directly within AI Overviews, and it has already signalled that these ads will next appear in AI Mode. These ads are crafted to be more contextually integrated as part of the user’s interaction with the AI.

This changes how and when ads appear, which means the usual metrics like impressions and click-through rates may function differently. We’re reviewing ad copy to ensure it reads naturally, aligns with longer and more specific queries, and matches the tone of conversational search. We’re also refining audience and keyword strategies to make sure our clients are visible in these new, high-intent, AI-driven touchpoints.

Content and Brand: Authority is more important than ever

AI-generated summaries rely on sources that Google deems trustworthy, accurate, and relevant. Therefore, even if a site ranks well today, it may not show up in AI results unless it is considered authoritative.

That’s why we’re working with clients to establish topical authority. This involves creating content that not only addresses questions but also showcases depth and credibility. It also necessitates ensuring brand signals are strong and consistent across the web. Regardless of whether a user clicks, having your brand mentioned in an AI summary can impact trust and recognition over time.

Where the Opportunities Lie for Early Movers

This shift to AI-powered search isn’t just a visibility challenge. For many businesses, it offers a first-mover advantage in areas where competitors may still rely on traditional approaches.

The introduction of AI Overviews means that the first businesses to create clear, well-structured content aligning with user queries will be the first to surface. Instead of retrofitting content later, we’re helping our clients proactively review key pages now; identifying where summaries can be tightened, questions can be answered more directly, and where internal linking can enhance relevance signals.

Early movers can use this period for paid search to experiment with conversational-style messaging, refine targeting for emerging search behaviours, and monitor placements in AI-integrated ads. We’re already testing how ads are served in different formats and preparing our clients to capitalise on that inventory as it becomes more widely available.

There’s also an opportunity for brand-first businesses to gain ground. AI Mode and Overviews are more likely to surface trusted brands that demonstrate authority. By strengthening content quality, consistency, and off-site trust signals, brands can increase their chances of being selected as a credible source later.

This goes way beyond tweaking a couple of landing pages. It’s about taking a strategic look at how your business appears in an AI-first world and making deliberate choices that position you strongly for the future.

Staying Ahead of the Curve

AI in search is not a passing trend; it signifies a fundamental shift in how users engage with content and how Google delivers it. The businesses who win will be those who move early and don’t wait for everyone else to catch up.

As an agency, we are already collaborating with clients to audit visibility, rethink the content structure, refine campaign targeting, and enhance brand signals, all with this AI-first search environment in mind. These changes are not optional and shouldn’t be observed passively; they are happening now.
If you’re unsure how your current digital strategy aligns with this new landscape, we’re here to help. Whether it’s a targeted review of your search presence or a broader discussion about visibility, we can guide you on what matters and where to focus next.