Google AI Mode and AI Overviews Get More Links, Carousels and Creator Info
Google is showing more clickable links inside its AI answers. Here is what changed, in plain words, and what it could mean for your website.
By Snehal Singh | Published: October 18, 2026
AI Overview Summary
Google’s AI Mode updates were announced on October 15, 2026. AI answers now show more links inside the text itself, higher up and more often. Google is also adding a top section of source links for certain tasks, article carousels in more places and languages, related articles with thumbnails, and clickable creator profiles on videos. Google says Preferred Sources has grown seven times this year. The big open question is whether people will actually click, since Google still does not share click data for AI answers.
Table of Contents
- What Did Google Announce?
- The Five Changes in Plain Words
- Preferred Sources Is Growing Fast
- Will People Actually Click?
- What Website Owners Can Do Now
- Mistakes That Look Like Strategy
- How Ad2Connect Approaches AI Search Changes for Clients
- Key Takeaways
- FAQ: Google AI Mode Updates
What Did Google Announce?
On October 15, 2026, Google announced a set of updates to AI Mode and AI Overviews in Google Search. AI Overviews are the short AI summaries that sometimes appear at the top of search results, while AI Mode is a separate way to search where you ask longer questions and receive a detailed AI answer.
Google says the changes aim to make exploring the web simpler, more visual and more engaging, and it also says that the updates may ultimately help publishers. Not everyone is convinced, however, because Barry Schwartz of Search Engine Land wrote that he is not sure about the benefit for publishers at this point.
The Five Changes in Plain Words
More Links Inside the Answer
AI answers now include inline links, which are links tucked inside words or phrases within the answer itself.
Google says it has made continued and substantial increases to how often these appear, and it is also placing them higher in the answer so that key sources are easier to click.
A Section for Official Sources
Sometimes only a couple of official websites can help you finish a task or find specific information, such as claiming an airline refund. In those cases, Google will show a dedicated section at the top of the AI answer with links to those sources, along with a short note explaining why each link is useful, which should encourage people to click.
Article Carousels in More Places
An article carousel is a row of news or article cards shown inside the AI answer. Google announced this earlier, and it is now rolling out to more locations and languages around the world.
The carousels are also appearing for a wider range of searches, and they highlight the sources that a user has chosen as preferred, which helps those sources stand out from the crowd.
Related Articles With Thumbnails
Some AI answers will now show related articles with images and thumbnails, which Google calls a more clickable design, so that searchers can more easily see other pages and open them.
Clickable Creator Profiles
In some AI Mode answers, videos will show the creator’s name, and you can click it to open that creator’s Search profile. There is a catch, though, because the click does not take you to the creator’s own website. It opens a Google page for Search profiles, and from there people can reach the creator’s other pages.
Preferred Sources Is Growing Fast
Preferred Sources is a feature that lets people choose the news and content sources they want to see more of in Google Search. Google says its use has grown seven times this year, which suggests that readers like having a say in who they hear from.
For a business, it is a reminder that trust matters. People can only choose a source they already know and like.
Will People Actually Click?
This is the big question, and nobody knows the answer yet. Google is clearly working to get searchers to click, but a full, detailed AI answer can leave a reader satisfied without ever visiting a website. What makes it harder to judge is that Google still does not show click data for AI answers in Search Console, so website owners cannot see how many visitors these links actually send them. Until that data appears, any claim about the benefit is only a guess.
Our post on Search Console AI reports going global explains what data you can see today and what is still missing.
What Website Owners Can Do Now
You cannot control what Google shows, but you can make your pages easier to choose, trust and click.
| Change | What It Means for You | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| More inline links | More chances to be a linked source | Publish clear, accurate pages that answer one question well |
| Official source section | Pages that complete a task may be featured | Make task pages, such as refunds, bookings and forms, easy to find |
| Article carousels | Fresh, timely content can stand out | Publish timely updates, and keep your news and blog pages current |
| Related articles | Images may help your page get noticed | Use clear, original images and descriptive titles |
| Preferred Sources | Trust helps people pick you | Build a brand readers know and want to follow |
Above all, keep tracking your own numbers, including your clicks, your branded searches and your enquiries, because those show what is really happening.
Mistakes That Look Like Strategy
These reactions feel smart but often waste effort:
- Rewriting your entire website because of a single Google announcement.
- Assuming that more links in AI answers will automatically bring more visitors.
- Ignoring AI answers completely and hoping that they eventually go away.
- Publishing thin, rushed news pages purely to chase article carousels.
- Skipping brand building, even though people can now choose the sources they trust.
How Ad2Connect Approaches AI Search Changes for Clients
At Ad2Connect, we treat every Google announcement as a signal to watch, not a reason to panic. We check what changed, what it might mean for your business, and what the data shows.
Our work starts with making your pages clear, accurate and easy to trust. That is the foundation of what a top SEO company in Mumbai, India should deliver, and it is what helps pages earn links in AI answers.
Preferred Sources also shows that people choose brands they know. Our branding agency in Mumbai team helps build the kind of recognizable brand that readers want to follow.
As a boutique digital marketing agency in Malad, we keep our advice honest and practical, and we only recommend changes that make sense for your goals.
Key Takeaways
- More links are arriving. Google is showing more inline links, and placing them higher in AI answers.
- New formats are rolling out. These include a top source section, article carousels, related articles and creator profiles.
- Preferred Sources is growing. Google says usage is up seven times this year.
- Clicks are unproven. Google still shares no click data for AI answers.
- Focus on building trust. Clear, accurate pages and a recognizable brand are your best preparation.
- Watch your own data. Track clicks, branded searches and enquiries.
Ad2Connect is a digital marketing agency in Mumbai helping brands grow through data-driven SEO, performance marketing and branding. If you want to know how Google’s AI changes affect your website, talk to our SEO team about a clear, honest review.
