In typical Google Search fashion, change is coming, and fast. Google is reportedly experimenting with a tweak to its Ai-powered “Overview” boxes, turning the “Show More” button into a gateway to full Ai Mode. This subtle shift could have big implications for how content is discovered, consumed, and prioritised.

Here’s what our clients and content strategists ought to know, and how to prepare.

What’s changing?

• Current behaviour: When users click “Show More” within an Ai Overview (those compact summaries at the top of the results), it expands that summary, revealing more of the text and associated citations relating to your published content.
• New test behaviour: Instead of simply expanding the summary, Google is apparently redirecting users into Ai Mode. In effect, you skip over the expansions and citations altogether, going straight into an Ai-generated narrative.
• This change has been observed in mobile results by multiple search watchers (e.g. Harpreet, Brodie Clark).

At present, it’s only a test which is not yet rolled out universally, and many users have been unable to replicate it reliably.

Why it matters for publishers & marketers

This is more than a minor UI tweak. If this change sticks, it shifts the dynamics of visibility, attribution and traffic.

1. Citations might be bypassed
   One fear is that content loses visibility if users are taken into Google’s Ai-driven narrative before seeing or clicking citations. The traditional path of “see the snippet → click to read original” could be disrupted.
2. Organic clicks could drop
   If users are swept into Ai Mode instead of being shown the rest of the excerpt plus links, there’s a chance fewer users will click through to the original content.
3. Content relevance & signal importance escalate
   When Google’s Ai is the vessel users are riding, how the Ai selects, weighs and frames your content becomes more critical. Your content needs to be not just high quality but also contextually strong (e.g. with endorsements, topical authority, and good semantic alignment).
4. Mobile-first pushes intensify
   Since this test is already being observed (primarily) on mobile search, it underscores even more that mobile experience, content structure, and snippet optimisation are pivotal.
5. Greater opacity / less control
   This gives Google more control over the narrative flow users see. As publishers, you may get less control of how your content is introduced or summarised.

What can you do now

You can’t stop Google testing, but you can position yourself to fare better when/if this change rolls out. Here’s a game plan:

Key Takeaways (For our clients)

1. It’s experimental, but serious
   Google’s tests often foreshadow wider changes. This one could recalibrate how search traffic behaves.
2. Your content must be Ai-friendly
   The better structured, authoritative and clear your content, the more favourable signals you feed into Google’s Ai decisions.
3. Citation visibility is under threat
   If “Show More” bypasses your content, the incentive for users to click through diminishes, making your citation strength and context more critical.

Stay agile & data-driven
Watch your traffic shifts, run small page experiments, and adapt quickly as patterns emerge.