Google puts inline links higher in AI answers

Google is updating its AI search results so inline links appear higher in responses more often, according to a company blog post. The change applies to AI Overviews and AI Mode, which present answers in a customized view rather than the traditional list of links.

This matters because the shift to AI-generated answers has raised concerns that fewer users reach the original sources. Placing links more prominently is one way platforms can address that tension between answering questions directly and sending traffic to publishers.

For marketers, publishers, and product teams, the takeaway is that search visibility is changing shape. Content that gets cited inside AI responses may matter as much as content that ranks in a classic list. Watching how this format evolves will be important for anyone who depends on search traffic.