Search Console’s New Generative AI Report: How to Measure AI Overviews Visibility (2026)

Google now shows how often your pages appear in AI Overviews and AI Mode. What the report includes, what it still hides, and how to act on it before Q4.

The report SEOs asked about for two years

For most of the AI Overviews era, the question “am I even in there?” had no answer inside Search Console. AI impressions were blended into the standard Web performance totals, so you could not separate visibility earned in AI Overviews from a normal blue link. That changed on June 3, 2026, when Google announced dedicated generative AI performance reports, and through the summer the rollout went global. As of September, the report sits under Performance → Generative AI and shows how often your URLs appear in AI Overviews, AI Mode, and generative features in Discover.

It is a genuine shift in Google’s position. Less than two years earlier, Google had said AI Overviews were simply part of Search and no separate reporting was planned. Treating AI visibility as its own measurement category is a recognition that the SERP has changed.

What the report actually shows, and what it does not

Two things are easy to overstate. First, this is a breakout, not new data: Google confirmed AI impressions were always in your totals, so your aggregate numbers do not change. Second, it measures visibility, not value. A rising impression count tells you your pages are being used in AI answers; it does not tell you whether that produced a visit or a sale. You still need Analytics for the business half of the picture.

How to actually use it

• Find your AI-cited pages. Sort by impressions to see which URLs Google’s AI already trusts. These are your templates: study their structure, headings, and directness.
• Spot the gap pages. Pages with strong classic rankings but zero AI impressions are candidates for rework: clearer answers up front, tighter headings, and explicit facts an AI can lift.
• Watch device and country splits. AI Mode usage skews differently by market; if your key country shows weak AI visibility, prioritize it.
• Track the trend, not the snapshot. With no query data, the useful signal is direction over time after you change a page.
• Decide on the block toggle deliberately. Google added a control to opt content out of AI Overviews, AI Mode, and Discover AI. Opting out forfeits AI impressions but does not affect regular rankings. Most brands should stay in.

Why this matters more right now

Google is folding AI Mode into AI Overviews, and holiday shoppers are increasingly asking AI what to buy before they ever see a product page. Being cited in those answers is becoming a Q4 acquisition channel, and this report is the first native way to see whether you are. Pair it with our answer engine optimization guide, our AI Overviews tactics, and the AI SEO tools that fill the query-level gap this report still has.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Generative AI report in Search Console?

Under Performance → Generative AI. There is a Search report covering AI Overviews and AI Mode, and a separate Discover report for generative features in Discover.

Does the report show clicks or which queries triggered AI impressions?

Not yet. At launch it shows impressions broken down by page, country, device, and date. Clicks, CTR, query-level data, and a split between AI Overviews and AI Mode are not provided.

Did my Search Console totals change when this launched?

No. Google confirmed AI impressions were always included in overall Performance totals. The new report only separates them into a dedicated view.

Should I block my content from AI Overviews?

For most businesses, no. Opting out forfeits AI impressions and traffic while leaving regular rankings unchanged, so you lose visibility without gaining rankings. Consider it only if you have a specific licensing or brand reason.