Did you know Google’s AI Overviews: A Never-Ending Loop Back to Google?

 

Google is trying to add some links in AI Overviews that will direct users to Google search results instead of publishers of websites. This means that Google is trying out links in AI Overviews which would take users to new search queries on Google search. Sachin Patel was the one of the first who observed this change. And according to his screenshots, when AI Overviews appear after he search for something, they come with underlined links. When he click on those links, AI Overviews will take them to a new Google Search page.

If the link icons are smaller, they direct users to side panel links but if they are smaller, they direct users to external websites and pages.

Google announced with its new AI mode that it is prominently surfacing relevant links so users can find them even if they haven't been discovered before. However, the links from AI Overviews are leading users to more Google's own search results which some may find debatable. This can result in a drop in CTR from Google search to external websites and Google’s search volume will keep on growing even if it cannot help the users.  

Google’s latest experiment with AI Overviews signals a deeper shift in how search functions, subtly keeping users within its ecosystem. Historically, search engines served as gateways to external content, but Google's gradual shift — from featured snippets to AI-generated summaries — suggests an evolving strategy to reduce outbound traffic.

This aligns with past trends, where Google has increasingly emphasized zero-click searches, structured data, and its own ecosystem of answers. By redirecting AI Overview links to more search queries instead of publisher sites, Google strengthens its grip on user engagement while potentially reducing referral traffic for websites.

This move raises concerns about organic visibility, as AI-generated results reshape the discovery process. If this pattern continues, website owners may see declining CTRs, while Google extends its dominance over information flow, reinforcing a cycle where users remain tethered to its platform rather than the open web. Given ongoing antitrust scrutiny, such tactics could further fuel regulatory battles over Google's monopolistic control of search and digital advertising.

 Image: Sachin Patel / X