Markham Erickson, Google’s VP of Government Affairs and Public Policy, recently told The Verge that search behaviour is shifting. Instead of relying solely on the traditional “10 blue links,” people are increasingly looking for Ai-generated overviews that provide direct, contextual answers.
Erickson emphasised that while user preferences are evolving, Google isn’t planning to abandon links altogether. Links remain a crucial part of the online ecosystem, and Google intends to keep sending traffic to publishers and creators as part of the broader value exchange.
He explained that for years, the model was straightforward: Google offered free access to billions of websites by directing users through links. That approach is still important, but the demand has changed; users want more immediate, summarised insights, as well as the ability to dive deeper into source content when needed.
“We want to provide both,” Erickson said, underscoring that Google’s priority is to maintain a healthy ecosystem while adapting to how people search today.
Industry watchers, like Glenn Gabe on X, noted the significance of Erickson’s comments: summaries may be taking centre stage, but links remain a core part of the search experience.
For the time being, Google will maintain its practice of displaying links alongside Ai-generated summaries, even though many users now lean toward preferring the summaries alone. While this shift may be frustrating to some, Google’s stance reflects a reality that can’t be ignored: user behaviour is evolving, and the company is adapting accordingly.
As search evolves with Ai summaries and shifting user behaviour, it’s more important than ever to have a strategy that ensures your brand still gets seen. At Weblinx, we specialise in Google SEO services that adapt to these changes. From optimising for featured snippets and AI-driven summaries to strengthening your backlink profile and on-page SEO, we make sure your website stands out in both traditional search results and Ai-generated overviews.
Our team focuses on:
Technical SEO to ensure Google can crawl and index your site efficiently.
Content optimisation that increases visibility in Ai summaries while still ranking in the “10 blue links.”
Authority building through strategic link development, digital PR and other off-page SEO services.
Analytics and reporting to track performance and refine campaigns.
If you want your site to thrive in this new era of search, Weblinx can help you stay ahead of the curve.
Google VP: Users Prefer AI Summaries, But Links Still Matter
Markham Erickson, Google’s VP of Government Affairs and Public Policy, recently told The Verge that search behaviour is shifting. Instead of relying solely on the traditional “10 blue links,” people are increasingly looking for Ai-generated overviews that provide direct, contextual answers.
Erickson emphasised that while user preferences are evolving, Google isn’t planning to abandon links altogether. Links remain a crucial part of the online ecosystem, and Google intends to keep sending traffic to publishers and creators as part of the broader value exchange.
He explained that for years, the model was straightforward: Google offered free access to billions of websites by directing users through links. That approach is still important, but the demand has changed; users want more immediate, summarised insights, as well as the ability to dive deeper into source content when needed.
“We want to provide both,” Erickson said, underscoring that Google’s priority is to maintain a healthy ecosystem while adapting to how people search today.
Industry watchers, like Glenn Gabe on X, noted the significance of Erickson’s comments: summaries may be taking centre stage, but links remain a core part of the search experience.
For the time being, Google will maintain its practice of displaying links alongside Ai-generated summaries, even though many users now lean toward preferring the summaries alone. While this shift may be frustrating to some, Google’s stance reflects a reality that can’t be ignored: user behaviour is evolving, and the company is adapting accordingly.
Discussion found on X.
How we can help with Google SEO services
As search evolves with Ai summaries and shifting user behaviour, it’s more important than ever to have a strategy that ensures your brand still gets seen. At Weblinx, we specialise in Google SEO services that adapt to these changes. From optimising for featured snippets and AI-driven summaries to strengthening your backlink profile and on-page SEO, we make sure your website stands out in both traditional search results and Ai-generated overviews.
Our team focuses on:
If you want your site to thrive in this new era of search, Weblinx can help you stay ahead of the curve.
Graig Upton
Graig has over 20+ years of experience in SEO consultancy and is efficient at identifying solutions with on-page and off-page SEO strategies.
Recent Posts
Recent Posts
Google May 2026 Core Update: What Businesses
26/05/2026Google’s AI Search Advice Cuts Through the
19/05/2026Google Analytics 4 Now Tracks AI Assistant
15/05/2026Google Ads Search Query Reports May No
14/05/2026GEO Metrics That Actually Matter in 2026
11/05/2026Categories