2026-09-14 Daily Brief

Google indicated that, despite demand to analyze AI search results separately, current Search Console data is not sufficient for a practical dedicated report.

Brief

Google stated that even though there is a demand to analyze AI search results separately, it is currently difficult to create a practical dedicated report using only Search Console data.

01Limitations of separate analysis of AI search performance data
URL impressions in AI Overviews and AI Mode are included in regular search performance reports, and impressions are counted differently depending on the link location and whether it is expanded.

Today’s signals

AI environment changes and classification candidatesSearch Engine Journal

Google acknowledges limitations in its Search Console report for AI search

WHAT CHANGED

Google's John Mueller agreed that it's difficult to provide useful Search Console performance reports filtered for AI searches.

WHY IT MATTERS

To interpret AI Overviews and AI Mode inflows separately, you need to check together how impressions are currently counted in Search Console.

Currently, there are limitations in viewing AI search performance as clearly as a separate report through Search Console alone. URL impressions in AI Overviews and AI Mode are already included in regular Search Performance report data. Links within AI Overview are aggregated based on where the AI Overview appears, rather than each link's actual location. Also, the link after ‘Show More’ is not counted as an impression until the user expands the content.

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How to read this

This archive preserves the selected sources and links. WHAT CHANGED summarizes the observed development. WHY IT MATTERS explains why it deserves monitoring. Each item remains an external signal until independently verified.