By Devesh Beri
Publication Date: 2026-02-20 13:00:00
Google is updating the AI Overviews and AI Mode in its search tool, so links in AI answers stand out more and can open in a new tab. On desktop, groups of source links now sit next to specific parts of AI responses as small link icons or clusters.
When users hover over these icons, a pop-up displays several links. Each link includes the site name, its favicon or logo, a brief description, and often a thumbnail image. This design lets people see what each source is about at a glance and then jump straight to the website from the pop‑up.
If users would rather not dive into individual web pages for more information, they can ask AI Overviews follow-up questions, which will launch a conversation with Google’s AI Mode.
Publishers are watching these changes closely because AI Overviews and AI Mode now appear at the top of most search results, making it easier for users to avoid clicking traditional web links. While Google…
