What Just Changed in Google Search Console

Search Engine Journal reports that Google has finished rolling out its AI-powered performance reports in Search Console to website owners worldwide. These reports show where your pages appear inside Google's AI features, such as AI Overviews and AI Mode, instead of just traditional search results.

This is a big deal because it gives businesses their first official look at how Google’s generative AI is using their content. Until now, website owners could only guess whether their pages were being shown in these new AI-generated answers. The rollout signals that AI search is no longer a test — it’s now a permanent part of how people find information online.

What This Means for Your Search Rankings

The new reports only show impressions — how often your page appears in AI features — but they don't show clicks yet. That means you can see you're being mentioned by Google's AI, but you have no idea if anyone actually visited your site from that mention.

For businesses trying to rank on Google, this changes the game. Traditional SEO focused on getting clicks from a blue link. Now, Google’s AI can summarise your content directly in the search results, potentially reducing traffic to your site. The real question is whether appearing in an AI Overview helps or hurts your business. Without click data, it’s impossible to know right now.

AI SEO is becoming about being useful to the AI, not just to human readers. Google’s algorithm now judges whether your content can answer a question clearly enough for the AI to quote it. If you write content that gets picked up by AI Overviews, you might gain brand exposure — but you could lose the visitor who would have clicked through.

What This Means for Australian SMBs

Australian small and mid-sized businesses often rely heavily on local search traffic. If a local bakery or plumber appears in an AI Overview, a potential customer might get the answer without ever visiting their website. That’s a direct hit to leads and sales.

On the flip side, Google’s reports also include a new opt-out control. You can choose to exclude your site from these AI features entirely. But be careful — opting out means you get zero visibility from AI search, which could hurt you if competitors stay in. The UK regulator has forced Google to allow opt-outs without penalty, but the long-term impact is still unclear.

What You Can Do Now

  • Log into Google Search Console and check if your site has the new AI reports under the “Search Generative AI” section. If not, wait — the rollout may still be in progress for your property.
  • Review the impression data you do have. Look at which pages appear in AI Overviews and ask yourself: are these pages answering clear, direct questions that a customer might type into Google?
  • Decide whether to test the opt-out control. If your site relies on clicks for sales, you might want to temporarily opt out and monitor traffic changes. If brand visibility matters more, stay in and track impressions.
  • Start writing content that is structured for AI consumption — use clear headings, bullet points, and concise answers to common questions. This helps Google’s AI pull your content into its summaries.
  • Keep an eye on future updates. Google is expected to add click data and page-level controls by March 2027, which will give you much more useful information for decision-making.

Navigating these changes can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. At MS&VG, we help Australian SMBs adapt to new search realities with our AI-powered SEO service, ensuring your business stays visible — whether customers find you through a link or an AI answer.