Google adds AI visibility toggle and performance reports in Search

Google announced that Search Console will soon include a toggle letting sites exclude themselves from generative AI Search features and a dedicated AI performance report showing impressions in AI Overviews and AI Mode, initially limited to a subset of UK websites [2].

New controls for AI visibility

The toggle lets webmasters decide whether their pages appear in AI Overviews, AI Mode, or AI Overviews in Discover. Google says the setting does not act as a ranking signal for traditional search results, mirroring earlier snippet controls and the Google‑Extended tool that blocks content from AI training [2]. By giving owners a binary choice, Google addresses publisher concerns about traffic loss to AI‑driven SERP elements.

Dedicated AI performance data

Alongside the toggle, Search Console will surface a new “AI performance” report that breaks down impressions by page, country, device, and even hour. The data isolates AI‑driven visibility from the broader performance metrics that previously bundled AI impressions with organic traffic [2]. Click‑through data and query‑level details are still missing, a gap Google acknowledges and says it will fill over time.

Context and competitive landscape

Google’s move follows a year‑long demand from site owners for clearer AI metrics. When AI Overviews launched in the U.S. in 2024, the lack of separate reporting made it hard to gauge AI‑specific traffic, a problem highlighted by John Mueller and SEJ’s coverage [2]. Microsoft’s Bing Webmaster Tools already offers an AI Performance dashboard with query‑to‑page mapping, putting pressure on Google to catch up [2]. The new reports therefore represent the first dedicated view of AI visibility within Google’s own ecosystem, even though they still omit click data.

What to watch

• UK test expansion – Google will monitor uptake and feedback before a worldwide rollout.
• Metric additions – Future updates may include clicks, queries, or conversion data for AI features.
• Publisher response – Adoption rates could signal how publishers value control over AI exposure versus potential traffic loss.

The toggle and AI‑specific reporting signal Google’s shift toward greater transparency for generative AI search, but the absence of click metrics means the full impact on traffic and SEO strategy remains to be seen.