As Google continues to evolve its search technology, new data from BrightEdge reveals a trending insight: Google's AI Overviews now overlap with traditional organic search results by 54%. This means that just over half of the web pages cited by Google's AI-powered Overviews are the same as the ones ranking organically, a significant increase since the feature's launch. Understanding this overlap and its implications is important for SEO professionals and content creators aiming to thrive in the modern search landscape. 
So, in this piece of writing, let us delve into the implications of this overlap for SEO professionals and publishers. We will look at the underlying procedures and nuances that are specific to each vertical, as well as provide practical guidance to help you maximise your plans for 2026 and the coming years.

What Is Google AI Overviews, and Why Does It Matter?

Google's AI Overviews is a search optimisation powered by the FastSearch algorithm, which uses deep-learning models to provide summarised citations from relevant web pages. Unlike traditional organic search rankings that depend on classic ranking signals such as backlinks and page authority, FastSearch focuses on semantic matching and user behaviour signals captured from click and query data. This helps the AI to pick pages that best match the type of content users prefer to see for a given query.

The Importance of the 54% Overlap

BrightEdge's research shows that 54% of the citations in Google’s AI Overviews are also found in the organic search results. In contrast, 46% of AI Overview citations are unique and do not appear in organic rankings. This suggests that Google's AI is expanding search results by including additional sources it considers relevant based on user behaviour and content quality, widening the scope beyond regular SEO rankings.

How Overlap Changes Across Industries

The extent of overlap changes across different content types. Below are the differences according to the industries:

• Healthcare: 75.3% overlap shows that most results come from a small group of authoritative sites.
• Education: 72.6% of educational content from authoritative sources now appears regularly in search results.
• Insurance: A strong 68.6% overlap, confirming users’ preference for trusted sources in this vertical
• E-commerce: Only 22.9% overlap, indicating less alignment between AI Overviews and organic listings, possibly because purchase-ready users prefer direct product pages over AI summaries.
• These differences highlight that in sectors like healthcare and education, Google’s AI mainly aligns with trusted organic results, whereas in transactional spaces like e-commerce sectors, AI Overviews focus more on a research function rather than purchase facilitation.

3 Steps for SEO and Publishers to Adapt to AI Search

​Staying ahead with this AI Search, both SEOs and publishers should implement a strategic three-step approach, which includes: 

• Step 1: Understanding AI Overviews (AIO)
• Step 2: Aligning Content With User Intent
• Step 3: Continuous Monitoring Search Performance

Let us have an in-depth understanding of each step: 

Step 1: Understanding AI Overviews (AIO)

This step is to measure the percentage of your content that shows up in both AI Overviews and conventional organic search results. It helps to benchmark your performance against the industry average of 54%, providing clarity on your current standing in the AI-enhanced search landscape

Step 2: Aligning Content With User Intent

This key step requires tailoring your content and SEO strategies based on your specific overlap profile and the user's search intent.

• High Overlap (>60%): For content with a strong presence in both Google’s AI Overviews and organic results, such as YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) topics, the focus should be on strengthening traditional SEO best practices. This ensures the continued visibility and authority.
• Low Overlap (<30%): If your content has minimal overlap, like many e-commerce product pages, a bifurcated content (a two-part approach to target both AI Overviews and traditional search results) strategy is recommended. Develop distinct content for AIO-friendly informational questions, while separately optimising content for traditional organic search to capture direct purchase intent.
• Growing Overlap (30-60%): For content showing an increasing overlap, a strong strategy is essential. This involves creating flexible, high-quality content that is semantically relevant for AI summarisation while also being optimised with traditional SEO signals to perform well in both aspects.

Step 3: Continuous Monitoring Search Performance

This final step emphasises the importance of ongoing attention. Regularly check the changes in your overlap percentage and observe industry trends, such as the overall growth in AIO-organic overlap. By staying informed about these shifts, SEOs and publishers can easily adapt to these strategies to maintain effectiveness in the dynamic AI-powered search environment.

Final Thoughts 

Google's AI Overviews have increased their industry-wide overlap by 22%, making them an increasingly important component of the search ecosystem. Understanding how AI interprets and surfaces content is the key focus for success in 2026 and beyond. Even though traditional SEO is still fundamental, publishers can guarantee visibility in both organic and AI-powered search results by aligning user intent and concentrating on quality.
To maximise content reach and engagement, this new environment encourages all digital marketers to closely monitor search trends and quickly adjust to Google's continuous innovations.
In order to support SEO strategies that are in line with the direction of search, this overview offers a new and practical viewpoint on Google AI Overviews. With Clicthrown’s strategic guidance, you can align with these changes and achieve long-term visibility.

FAQs on Google AI Overviews and SEO Overlap 2026

1.What is the current overlap between Google's AI Overviews (AIO) and traditional organic search results?
According to new research, there is a 54% overlap and a strong link between the two. This shows that even though AIO uses FastSearch for sophisticated semantic matching, it usually presents content that organic ranking signals already value.
2.How does Google's FastSearch algorithm, used in AI Overviews, influence website ranking?
Based on user behaviour data (such as clicks), FastSearch, which is driven by the RankEmbed deep-learning model, gives priority to speed and semantic relevance. It emphasises that quality and relevance in content creation are essential for AIO visibility and focuses on aligning content with user intent and expectations rather than traditional ranking signals.
3.Does the overlap percentage vary by industry, and if so, how?
Yes, the overlap varies significantly by industry. High-stakes "Your Money Or Your Life" (YMYL) content areas like healthcare and education show much higher overlap (e.g., 75.3% for healthcare), while e-commerce has a notably lower overlap (22.9%). This indicates AIO's suitability depends on the query's underlying user intent and vertical.
4.Do blogs created by AI get indexed by Google?
In general, blogs and other content types produced by AI are indexed by Google.  Google rewards high-quality content regardless of its production method, according to the Google Search Central document.  That means, as long as your AI-written content is well-written and meets Google standards, it will get indexed.